Untitled

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13695, 11 September 1906, Page 4

TH]5 MAIL SERVICES. Tub discussion last week upon the vote on tho Postal Estimates for the yearly subsidy to the Oceanic Steam .Shipping Company for tho oonvoyanco of the mails by the Snn Francisco route covered a good deal of the ground that will havo to he traversed when resolutions are submitted to Parliament,- later'on in the session, for tho renewal of the contract under which the service is supplied. The main argument upon which the supporters of tho San Francisco route, have to rely is that it provides the colony with a service that is speedy and cheap, t Tho colony is not indifferent to .tho • advantage of having • its mails delivered expeditiously at :i moderate cost, but most business'people will ques, tion whether the San Francisco service really deserves all the credit which tho Premier gave it on" Friday afternoon. Undoubtedly the experience we have, had of it for some months past has been 1 estremoly unsatisfactory. /The earthquake and the consequent dislocation of trade in «„„ Francisco, have, of course, necessarily interfered with'tho conduct of the servico, and tho publiu in New Zealand will have mado every allowance for this, circumstance. Hut Mr Aitken, a man who is not in thn habit/of'making'rash statements or of drawing unjust inferences, was ul% to show the Houso that thoro' is not so much difforonco between the time oconpiwl on tho San Francisco route and that .-occupied oti-'the Vancouver route ns to justify the assumption that tho former, viewed simply as a mail route, is vastly superior to the latter. Moreover, it,is impossible to avoid 'the conclusion that, since the Commonwealth enjoys tho use of the

'<*.•' / ' ' ■ i San Francisco service* at.a?much lower rate than that paid by New Zealand, it might be possible to secure the service for this colony 'on more favourable term? than tboso for, which provision is made in the contract with the Oceanic Company. Indeed, the monwealth seems to obtain a twofold advantage, over NewjZealand in'connection with the maiutenanco 'of the service: it not .only gets its mails carried at a lower rate, but itl-nlso derives the benefit of the bullj.of the colonial expenditure., of the owners of the line. Even, however, if the colony were provided with the service on tortus more advantageous than it lias yet been able to secure, there would still be tho objection, which tho Premier seems disposed Id treat rather lightly, that the service was itfstituted and is maintained under conditions that, however consistent they may be with the policy of excliisiveness which the great American Republic has adopted, cannot, he regarded by liiitish people as other than offensive to their national pride, 'itls tt» the subsidising of an American service, promoted primarily for the purpose of 'fostering American trade in liiitish colonies, ami entirely con--trolled and jimmied by American;,', that the objection lies, and it is absurd to: suggest, as the, Premier does, that provincial jealousy'underlies the opposi--Hon to, the Han Francisco route. The practical question, • no doubt, remains, whether it is ; possible to secure, a service which, while it will not offend our sense of patriotism, will adequately meet Hie requirements of tho' colony. The refusal of the Federal Government to permit tho,; Vancouver steamers to make'a port of call in New: Zealand instead of in.Queensland, and tho objection the. Premier entertains to tho transhipment •of mails at' Suva, inwy pqssibly be regarded as placing tho Vancouver service temporarily out of court. Rut it may M practicable to, arrange for such a direct subsidised cqnnebtiop between the Commonwealth and New Zealand as may.' secure to the colony the fullest benefit of the Federal mail service when it is commenced. The Premier has expressed himself as willing to consider the matter, and if there'is any possibility, uis we should imagine there must be, of thn establishment of a satisfactory connection with, tbjs service it would be a mistake on the pjirfc of Parliament to sanction any renewal for a lengthened term of the.contract with the Oceanic Company.