AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 5948, 11 July 1906, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

CABLE NEWS.

fKirro press association. —bt eijsotbj' T^LEOEApa. —coptmoat.

THE NEW CONTRACT. SHORTENING THE TIME OF TRANSIT. A WEEKLY SERVICE. (Received July 10, 11.4 p.m.) MELBOURNE, July 10.

The Federal Premier, Mr Deakin, announced in iho House to-day the particulars of the now contract for the carriage of mails between Australia and Britain.

There is to be a fortnightly service between Brindisi and Adelaide, alternating wtth a similar service to be proviat'.l by the Imperial Government. The period of duration is fixed at ten years. The new mail service will replace the Orient line’s service when it exjUres in February, 1908.

The time of transit will be 636 hours, which is sixty hours shorter than that of the present service and twenty-six hours shorter than the tune made by P. and 0. boats.

The price of the now' service is £125,000 annually. Provision is made — if the speed is accelerated so as to shorten the time of passage hy twentyfour hours—for the reimbursement of extra expenses incurred by the acceleration. Such reimbursements are not, however, to exceed £25,000 per annum.

Provision is made in the contract for tho acquisition by the Federal Government of the steamers to be employed under it, or, alternatively, for their charter, if desired. The port of registry will be within tho Commonwealth, and the vessels will fly tho Federal flag. \ White labour only is to be employed on tho vessels. '

Five tenders were received, and the lowest was accepted. The agreement is made with Sir James Laing and Sons. There will bo three times tho amount of cold storage at present available. The vessels must have a minimum burden of 11,000 tone. NEW ZEALAND INCLUDED. MELBOURNE, July 10. Air Deakin, replying to an interjection. said ho was unable to contradict the statement that the vessels would go to New Zealand. That would not. however, affect the contract with tho Commonwealth. It would be a fortunate thing if New Zealand joined in, for tho service would then become an Australasian service.