SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13836, 25 February 1907, Page 5

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

THE GOVERNMENT THREATENS TO TAKE ACTION.

(Per United Prjiss Association.)

WELLINGTON', February 23. Spcakiiig of tho irregularity of tho San Iranelsco miiil service, the Hen. Dr Findlay (Acting Postmaster-general) stated that numerous complaints had roMiod both tlip department slid, himself. t( Wo recognise," bo said, that Sprecklcs and Co. have bad to encounter serious difficulties owing to the earthquake, but every indulgence has been showed them, and prompt action must now be lakon lo end tho present .unsatisfactory state of things. It, is just as important to havo regularity rttid punctuality of ruiitiirig «s to have expedition of transit, A groat many contracts are made on the basis of mail time-table, aiid ilio uncertainty And lri'cgiilaritv of tlie San Francisco liiail service fbr tiiortths past lias eaiisiid sUch kiss of business that commercial inen are now giving it. up and relying on tho Suez routo only. The last San Francisco eontract expired on November iOi 1006, and no fresh contract lias beetP entered into, so that no penalties are now beiiig incurred by the company. Matters havo &oito from bad to worse, and now the Ventura is to be liiid up fbr repairs and overhaul, and one mail at least is to bo dropped altogether. Tlio conipanv has received repeated notices and warnings, aiid while it may not have been able lo overcome its obstacles it certainly has not improved the regularity of its running. The company admits that it cannot, with its present fleet, maintain tho timo-tablc dates. The Ventm'a's withdrawal from the services will bo a lengthy oUe, and the position can only bo met by tho company substituting a chartered vessel. I understand that tlie Riverina is available. The company has been notified that unless a sustitulo vessel is provided no English jrifiils will bo sent by the San Francisco steariiers untij the service has been put on a proper footing arid it can be shown that the steamers themselves are capable of keeping time-table dates. If the company does riot promptly move in_ the direction required (he Government will Have t,o consider tho advisability of t abandoning .the service altogether. It will be remembered that wo have now, via Suez, a fortnightly service, running with complete regularity. . Tlie Servioo is costing us Jess than the San Francisco service costs us, while tho Saft Francisco line is a three-weekly service. The only drawback to (ha Suez scrvlce is that it takes a week longer, than tho contract tittle of the San Francisco line. However, as I haVe said, I believe that punctuality Itiul regularity are as important as oxpeciitioUi ! transit."