THE VANCOUVER SERVICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14392, 10 June 1910, Page 4

THE VANCOUVER SERVICE

The proposals made at Brisbane for the protection of . ■ Queensland' interests in the Vancouver service do not appear to conflict- with the conditions New Zealand; would seek to impose. If the Canadian Govern-1 ment declines to admit this Dominion into the service there -will be no alternative but to establish a rival line, as promised - by . Sir Joseph Ward on Tuesday; night, But; it is hardly to s be feared that, if convinced of New Zealand's determination, . the Canadian Government will .not cooperate with us. We may therefore consider those of the Brisbane proposals which deal with the calling of the /steamers at Auckland as actually ; valid, and can discuss them upon their merits. , It seems reasonable enough that a certain amount of refrigerating space should be assigned to every contributing State and Queensland is one of . them ; also that freightage ;; should not be increased to Brisbane shippers because the steamers turn from the more direct course to call . at Auckland. Canadian import duties are a different matter and necessarily depend upon the fiscal arrangements 1 made with the Commonwealth and the Dominion' Governments respectively; hut as far as New Zealand is concerned there is not the slightest wish to compete at an advantage, against Queensland or any Australian shipments to Canada. ..What

the Vancouver steamers do after reaching Auckland from Canada or before leaving Auckland for Canada concerns the Federal Government alone, but we should naturally prefer Brisbane as the Australian port to be thus linked with Auckland, for we have already connection with Sydney, and can only gain by extending our maritime relations. s There is thus nothing in the Brisbane proposals which need hamper arrangements for admitting New Zealand to the Vancouver service, and we greet them with satisfaction as prophetic I of this most desirable consummation.