OCEAN MAIL SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13938, 21 December 1908, Page 8

OCEAN MAIL SERVICES.

THE ALL-RED" ROUTE. / POSSIBLE" REVIVAL' OF. 'FRISCO ' • SERVICE. The Prime Minister' and Postmaster-Gene-ral (Sir .Joseph Ward) informed a Herald representative last evening that there were no now developments to report in regard to the question of improved ocean mail services. Ho was still anxious to.] bring about a complete All-Red" service by way of Canada. So long, however, as Brisbano remained one of the ports of call in Australia there was a difficulty in getting the direct connection with New Zealand. Speaking of the fast, service of 21 days, promulgated at the last Imperial Conference, Sir Joseph said he was convinced that it would bo a great thing for New Zealand if this service could be brought about. "The trade connection and the increase in the tourist traffic that it would lead to would," he said, "mean a great deal to 'the Dominion. The service, however, en only be brought about by the active co-operation of the Mother Country, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It necessarily takes some time to secure this co-operation on definite lines, but the object is a good one, and one well worth fighting for. " I am informed by some of my American correspondents," Sir Joseph went on to say, " that some of the people in the States are very anxious to re-establish the direct mail connection between San Francisco and New Zealand. The project is as yet only in embryo, but I understand that if 'it is brought to pass the-boats will bo largor than those cmployod in tho prevL..s 'Frisco service." , ' • ■ . As to the port of call for such a service, if established, Sir Joseph said that he had no doubt Auckland would be selected either in this or a Vancouver service. Geographically," he said, " I think Auckland is the most suitable, and now that the Main Trunk railway is completed, it would give the best and quickest connection for the whole of the Dominion." It would also, he said, bo more convenient to the tourist, as calling at Auckland inthe first place would enable them to take the attractions of the Dominion on apace, starting with Rotorua, and working down the two islands, without any necessity to retrace their stops. The Wellington-Tahiti service would, Sir Joseph stated, be inaugurated at the beginning of the Now Year, as had been previously stated. DR. COULTER'S MISSION. Dr. R. M. Coulter, Deputy-Postmaster-Goncral of Canada, who has been visiting the Dominion for the purpose of consulting with the Government in regard to the institution of the proposed fast "All-Red " route, and who is at present in Auckland, was also soon by a Hekald reporter yesterday. Dr. Coulter stated that as already announced ho was inquiring into the possibilities of the service and consulting with the Governments of Now Zealand and Australia. Ho was not prepared to make any statomont at present, but ho' would report fully on the subject on his return to Canada.