THE VANCOUVER SERVICE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10453, 12 May 1910, Page 4

THE VANCOUVER SERVICE.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.] (Per Press Association.) Received May 12, at 1.3 a.m. Brisbane, May 11. The Chamber of Commerce discussed the proposal to make New Zealand a port of call for the Vancouver steamers. It was stated that for years New South Wales and Queensland had borne the burden of the subsidy for the benefit of the whole of Australia, and it would be unfair to take the boats oft" the Queensland route in the interests of New Zealand, 'which was not a portion of the Commonwealth. The value of the imports bv the line into Queensland for 1907 was £54,000; in 1908 £46,000; and in 1909, £55,000; and for the first-four months of this year £31,000.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, May 11. Sir Joseph Ward, Postmaster-Gene-ral, interviewed by a New Zealand Times reporter in reference to the cable messages regarding the proposal to include New Zealand in the Vancouver mail service, states that there is a pos- • sibility of fixing up a service with Canada, and it was very likely it would be definitely decided within the next few days. Auckland, May 12. The Premier, replying to a telegram from the Chamber of Commerce, declines to participate in a controversy between the Wellington and Auckland Chambers of Commerce on the question of .the mail services. He to advise Mr Gunson as soon as anything definite is known. Mr Tew§ley, chairman of the_ Wellington Chamber of Commerce, in reply to Mr Gunson, denies knowledge of any adverse influence at work in Wellington to subsidise direct liners and make Wellington a port of call. Mr Gunson's answer is to the effect that if no such influence is at work why does, not Wellington join Auckland to "secure the Vancouver service, with Auckland as a port" of call.