PACIFIC MAILS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10519, 29 July 1910, Page 2

PAFIC CI MAILS.

IXDEPEXDF.XT SERVICE FORESHADOWED. By Telegraph. (Special to the Oamaru Mail.) Wellington, July 'JB. A cupv of the conditions on which Canada i's calling for a new mail service with Australia either direct or with a New Zealand connection were laid on the table of the House to-day and proyoked some pointed remarks li'om the Prime Minister. The position oi Now Zealand now is that the Australian service with Vancouver with an Auckland call will expire in July next, and Australia v, ill not agree to a renewal because ol the difficulty of having born nn Auckland and Brisbane call. When the papers were presented. Mr James Allan asked wheiner uic Mouse would have an opportunity or considering the conditions. The Prime Minister replied that ll Xiw Zealand was included in any tenders no dou'i; the (lovernmeiit would be approached on the matter. Australia had already declined to uegotoate marked."were returnable by November. In the event of these tenders leaving out Xew Zealand, the .Prime Minister added, t tbink it is beyond all question thai we shall have to go in for our own service independently of Australia. A Yoic.-: Our own steamer. The Prime Minister: 1 do not know about that. It is a pretty costly job. This country cannot remain m the position of being at the will oi any other country in regard to these mail .services. Fl' we cannot join in the Australian contract the importance of Xow Zenle.nd demands that we must go lor our own service, if these other countries do not include us we will be v.ituouf a Pacific mail. Mr Allen suggested that Canada might be approached at once the Prime Minister said that that had been done, and Canada was willing to negotiate, hill the difficulty lay with Australia. Mr Mas-ey suggested a connection between Auckland and Suva, with transhipment, as an independent service would be outside the means of the Dominion.

. Till' Prime Minister said that at present New Zealand was -the fifth wheel of the coach, hut it could not stand out of mail and passenger services with Canada, as it would lose a lot of money. A separate service would have the advantage of calling at every port, making Auckland the. first and last port, arid .stores and repairs would not be obtained in another country as at present. Mr T. F. Taylor: Is there any prospect of a 'Frisco service? The .Prime Minister: 1 believe there is a possibility. Transhipment at Vancouver, Sir Joseph "Ward continued, would be very costly,.amounting- to .Cli,o:)tf or £17,U00 a voar.

■ Mr Massey: "What, will a Canadian service -cost" ■ . ■ ' The.. Prime Minister: Not so very much.. It...is possible that a service might be. obtained from London, via Suez, to New Zealand, touching at all the foominion ports and going on to Vancouver, and returning by the same route to London. This would be of great value to this country. A A Member: What about Central America ? The Prime Minister: It may be a little shorter, but I think we should stick to Canada, and in any case the transit across country, 1 have reason to believe, would not be satisfactory. It does not seem desirable, to look for a new route outside the one or two we have now. In conclusion, the Prime Minister assured members that the Rouse would be consulted before the Government came to any decision on the proposals.