NEW MAIL SERVICE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7871, 5 August 1911, Page 4

NEW MAIL SERVICE

New Zealanders have reason to feel gratified at the inauguration of the new Vancouver steam service. The departure of the fine steamer Marama from Auckland yesterday on the first run under, the new arrangement marked a “red letter day,” as the Mayor of Auckland observed at a luncheon held in celebration of the event. It is not so much that the service is in pursuance of the "all red” sentiment, though that aspect of the matter is satisfactory. The main thing is that it opens the way for freer trading intercourse with Western Canada, and will enable the two Dominions to develop commercial interests. As our products increase in volume and variety it becomes necessary to seek new outlets, and ■ this . opening has been obtained by the Government' with such skill as to include a very satisfactory additional mail and passenger service. New Zealand is brought within twentyeight days of London, and this fourweekly connection, with the weekly service via Suez and the four-weekly mail from Wellington to San Francisco, gives us an alternating system of communication which, considering our isolation and the moderate cost entailed, must be regarded as a distinct advance. Since the enterprise of the Union Company has helped to make the new service possible there is some satisfaction that in tapping a new part of the world and placing a fresh passenger fleet at the disposal of the travelling public on the Pacific the Dominion has not had to go outside for a contracting firm. Incidentally, the Manama’s arrival at Auckland yesterday gives point to the movement. largely supported throughout New Zealand, to have the weekly incoming Suez mail sent to Wellington by steamer leaving Sydney each Monday. The Marama loft Sydney last Monday, bringing the week’s English mail, which will reach Wellington to-day, instead of next Monday or Tuesday as would have been the case under ordinary circumstances. Had the mail come direct to Wellington Auckland would have received its portion this morning, and practically the whole of the South' Island would have 1

had its correspondence distributed today. Fortunately, this reform appears likely to come about. It is certainly only a reasonable corollary that tho receipt of incoming: mails should be expedited just as the despatch of outgoing correspondence is facilitated by the provision of more and faster services.