THE VANCOUVER MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14581, 18 January 1911, Page 7

THE VANCOUVER MAIL.

WILL AUSTRALIA COME IN?

SIR JOSEPH WARD'S OFFER.

[by TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Christchtjrch, Tuesday. In referring to the new Vancouver mail contract at St. Kilda last night, Sir Joseph Ward said there had been very ,great difficulty in connection with the matter in consequence of the attitude of Australia, so much so, that not very long' ago he cabled to the Prime Minister of Canada and asked him whether he would be agreeable that Canada and New Zealand should carry out the service by themselves. The difficulty he had alluded to was, he believed, due" to an'erroneous impression on the part of' those responsible for the Government of the Commonwealth. Of course, they were entitled to do what they conceived was calculated to promote the welfare of their people, but he submitted there were some matters in which it was well to take a broad-minded view and not to confine ■ the advantages of certain- undertakings entirely to any one country, but to sink anything in the shape of local competition, and act in the interests of all the countries concerned. For many years New Zealand was' the chief contributor to the San ' Francisco mail service, while Australia was giving little or nothing . towards it. New Zealand gave its contribution ungrudgingly, though the terminal point with its consequent advantages was not situated in this country. The Dominion adopted, no dog in the manger policy in the matter. It was friendly to Australia, and he believed that Australia was friendly to New Zealand. He believed Australia was friendly in the strictest sense of the 'term, but it was idle for anyone in Australia to suppose that this important country was going to remain outside of the zone of traffic with Canada, arid if we could not obtain a service with Australia included it was beyond all question that the people of the Dominion would agree ;to establish their own service with Canada.' , The time had passed by when anyone could suppose that what was all right five or ten years ago was all right now. New Zealand was an exporting country by nature, and rit would be futile for any person to say that every reasonable effort should) not be made in the general interests of all classes to provide desirable trade connection with outside countries. New Zealand was ready and willing to have a triple agreement Canada, Australia, and) New Zealand. There could bo a condition in the contract that if after a time Australia was not agreeable to co-operate with Canada and New Zealand then this Dominion would make for. a direct service between New Zealand and Canada, and in the interval, if the cooperation was agreed to, the Dominion would cheerfully and willingly join in the agreement and carry it out in the general interests of the different countries • .that would each gain so much by this improved means of communication with England via Canada. In other words, New Zealand wished for an All-Red 1 route to London, and it seemed to him it was in the interests of the countries flying the British flag to sink minor differences and work for the common good in that respect.

'FRISCO AS A SUBSTITUTE.

• MR. FISHER'S ■ SUGGESTION.

By Telegraph.— Association.—Copyright. Melbourne, January 17,

The Postmaster-General (Mr. Josiah Thomas) premised a deputation of Queensland Federal members to keop Brisbane's claims in mind in making arrangements for a new Canadian-Australian service now that Canada had arranged for a service direct with .New..Zealand. . . , Mr. Fisher, referring to the matter, said it might be advantageous for Australia to have a service between Sydney and San Francisco as a substitute for the Vancouver service. . It was very questionable indeed whether more important interests would not be served than by the Vancouver line. The matter, however, had not yet received Cabinet consideration. CANADA AND NEW ZEALAND. MUTUAL TRADE INTERESTS. (Received January • 18, 1.10 a.m.) Ottawa, January 17. Regret is expressed in Ministerial circles that Australia has been' unable to agree to the inclusion of a New Zealand port in the mail service. It is felt, that Canada's interests are closely bound up with New Zealand, and that a failure on the part of Canada to foster trade relations with New Zealand would not be in keeping with the existence of the reciprocity treaty.