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New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4266, 21 November 1874, Page 2

We are always reluctant to enter upon a controversy with another journal on a matter of fact, inasmuch as a flat contradiction necessarily involves an imputation of inaccuracy, intentional or otherwise. Of course, on matters of opinion we may agree to differ in the most friendly spirit. This is essential to newspaper controversy, in which one must learn to give and take with good temper. Wo happen to differ from one of our local contemporaries on the merits of a recent Ministerial appointment; but that is a subject on which we need hardly expect a perfectly unanimous opinion, and therefore we shall not further allude to it in this place. Our other evening contemporary, however, stands on a different footing. With respect to it, our difference is not of opinion but of fact. The matter to which we allude is of importance, and if left unexplained would be apt to place the Government in an unfair light before the country. For the sake, therefore, of truth, and in the interests of the public, we shall copy the misleading paragraphs from the Post, and make the necessary explanations. Thus, on the 7th instant, the following appeared in that paper : Wo learn that the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company have made an exceedingly liberal offer to the Government for the collection and distribution of the interprovincial mails, so as to obviate the necessity for any new contract, including the service from Auckland to Port Chalmers by the ocean steamers. Wo shall take an early opportunity oi commenting on his subject. Now, what is the fact 1 No offer was made the Government until the 32th. The offer—a verbal one—was for £2600 per annnin for performing a service between Manukau and Port Chalmers, in connection with the temporary San Francisco service—not such a liberal offer after all. The company wore given to understand that Government would probably not entertain the offer. Subsequently the company agreed to perforin the service for £2015 per annum, or at the rate of £155 for each complete trip. On the 17th November, the following paragraph appeared in the Post ; — A few days ago we stated that the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company had made a very liberal offer to the General Government for the performance of the interprovincial mail service, so as to obviate the necessity of requiring the San Francisco mail boats (to come down the coast. The subsidy asked was, we believe, only the nominal one, for such a service, of £2300 per annum, yet wc learn that the Government has declined this offer, intimating that it will not enter into any contract or pay more than £l2O per trip, the arrangement being made from month to month. There are said to be certain private reasons (to which we will take an early opportunity of referring) for this extraordinary course. J This paragraph is almost entirely incorrect. No direct offer was made by the company, therefore there could bo no refusal. On the manager of the company intimating that the company would be prepared to perform the service for £2015 instead of £2600, and that any agreement must be for a period of twelve months, the Hon. the Acting Postmaster-General called upon the manager and stated that he considered £l2O per trip, or £1560 per annum, ample payment; and that the Government could not make any arrangement for a fixed period of twelve months. The Government could only arrange trip by trip, or for so long a period as the existing temporary San Francisco service continued. This was the extent of the refusal of Government. On the other hand, the company declined further negotiations, as the Government would not enter into a contract for twelve months. Aina », wa Vila \jHLy ill!Ult- uicn-uwiunuu." On the reasons for refusing to make a twelvemonths contract being explained to the Chairman of the Directors by the Acting Postmaster-General, the chairman considered them satisfactory. Hence the following written offer from the company New Zealand Steam Shipping Company, (Limited.) Wellington, 19th November, 1874, Sir, —I have the honor to inform you that the directors of this company are willing to perform the service of carrying the inward and outward San Francisco mail from Manukau to Port Chalmers, and back to Manukau, calling at New Plymouth, Nelson, Picton, Wellington, and Lyttelton, upon the following terms and conditions, viz:— The steamer to leave the Manukau on tho arrival of the mail from San Francisco. In the event of tho mail from San Francisco not arriving In Auckland at its due date, the steamer to awaits its arrival twenty-four hours, without extra charge; beyond that period a payment to be made the company of fifty pounds per day, or part of a day, such detention not to exceed forty-eight hours after the vessel’s advertised time of sailing, or the due date of arrival of the San Francisco mail; and tho detention to be computed from the advertised hour that the vessel should leave Onehunga in time to cross the bar at the Manukau Heads, during the daylight, and at time of high water on that date. Should the vessel be required to leave'the Manukau before the advertised date and time of sailing, an extra payment to be made the company of fifty pounds per day, or part of a day, time to bo computed as above stated. These conditions to refer to the departures of tho vessels from [for?J Port Chalmers. The service to continue for the period of twelve months, should the San Francisco mail service exist for that time. Payment for such service (£165) one hundred and fifty-live pounds per trip—payable monthly, or after performance of such trip.--I have, &c., R. S, Ledger, Manager. Tho Honorable the Postmaster General, Wellington. This offer has been accepted by the Government, who could have secured other offers for the service, but did not wish to ignore the local company The terms are not unreasonable. So far from any bad feeling existing, we believe the chairman expressed his regret that there should have been any misunderstanding in the past, and his earnest desire to work harmoniously with the Government. The foregoing arrangement will release the Murray from carrying the mail between Nelson and Manukau, for which a subsidy of £IOO per month was paid. The New Zealand Company’s boats will carry the mail between Manukau and Nelson, while tho Murray will be employed on tho mail service between Nelson and tho West Coast. Negotiations are now pending with the New Zealand S.S. Company for a service to Napier and Poverty Bay, dovetailing with the arrangement just entered into with the company. The public will therefore perceive the groundlessness of tho charges which our contemporary made against the Government.