AUCKLAND-SYDNEY MAILS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15142, 13 May 1911, Page 9

AUCKLAND-SYDNEY MAILS.

THREE DAYS' SERVICE DE- ■ MANDED. - (Peg United Punas Association - .) AUCKLAND, May 12. Tho subjcct of a three days' service between Auckland and Sydney wa6 discussed by tho Auckland Chamber of Commereo this afternoon.

The President (Mr Leo Myers) read and laid upon the fable correspondence which had passed between himself and the Union Company on the subject. His first letter to Mr C. Holdsworth, general manager of the company, had been sent in February, and was very similar to that sent later and published.' Mr Holdsworth's reply to the first letter formally acknowledged its receipt, and went on to' say that it was a matter for regret that the Maheno had not recently maintained the speed for which sho was • designed— viz., 15 knots. On the arrival of the new intercolonial ship, which should be completed in August next, the Maheno would be taken in hand with a .view to her speed being brought up to a satisfactory' standard. After receiving Mr Holdsworth s reply, he had let tho matter drop, iind the Maheno did manage to run the distance in three days 20 hours, which appeared to satisfy the Union Company, but he felt that in view of the great progress of the Dominion in the last 20 yean the time had come when the' distance Itetween Sydney and Auckland should •be shortened. _ None'of them desired to injure the Union Company, but to suggest that because that company or the Hud-dart-Parker Company had been able to send a better class of steamer \o Auckland the people should be satisfied, regardless the time'the steamers took, was a thing that would net appeal to commercial men. The Chamber of Commerce had not the slightest desire to regard the matter from a provincial standpoint. It w'a6 purely a national matter that paasengere and other communication witii Sydney should be made as fast as possible, and in a way commensurate with the progress of the Dominion. His second letter, which, had been published in full, had suggested that the-time of the trip should be Te« duc«] to three days. The Moana had done the run in three days 18 houre, and there could he no reasonable objection to accelerating the speed of vessels except that of cost. If the cost,'as Sir J. Mi 11..; had painted, out, was such that the com. pany could not see their way as business men to put faster vessels on the run, the least they could do was to suggest what subsidy would be required to enable the improvement- to be made. As business men the Auckland Chamber and the Wellington Chamber, and'any. other'chamber of commerce, would be agreeable to re-, commend a reasonable subsidy for the Union Company or any other company to bring about a three days' service. They could not expect luxuries without paying for them. He was unable to- discuss the cost of running fast steamers, but if the company had a good case it was their duty to put it forward, a,nd a just claim would receive support. He moved— "That whilst this chamber recognises the enterprise of tho Union Company during the past 25 years, it is of opinion that tho period has arrived when the time occupied by mail steamers between Sydney and Auckland should not exceed three days."

In supporting the motion, Mr Gunson said the chamber was indebted to the president for his energetic action. . Ifc seemed to be impossible to bring the Ma heno up to a suitable standard. She was a discredit to the service now. -

Mr Gaudin .said that the Island steamers also needed speeding up. Their car*oes often arrived spoiled, and on the last visit of the Talune 2000 cases of oranges had to be taken away and dumped overboard. ,

The President said the chamber had better aevolc itself to one thing at a tane. •

After some further discussion, the president's motion was carried. Mr Gtmson moved—" That the P. and 0. Company be requested to advise this chamber whether they can favourably consider the question of providing a weeklythree days' steam service between Auckland and Sydney." This would, he said. Jet the Union Steam Ship Company see that they wc-r<? not tho only fi&h in the pond.—(Applause.) Mr B. Kent seconded the motion. Mr Elliott _ said there was not the slightest possible change of the P. and O. Company acceding to the Tequest, and m his opinion such a motion should not be passed upon the spur of the moment, for it was too serious.

Tins President thought there was a good deal in what Mr Elliott said, but thcre_ would be no harm in asking the question The Union Steam Ship Company had not treated Auckland too generously, perhaps, but thev would no douW regard tfce" motion as a threat. ' Mr Gnnson, in reply, said lie was sorry the adverse views expressed had been taken. He looked upon it as a purely business question, and if they could "et more satisfaction from another company than they received from M Union Steam amp Company, they should accept- it. He admitted that the Union Company had done great service to New Zealand,'but it was a. business company, and had dino well by its trade with the Dominion. He believed the P. and 0. Company would consider this matter, for it was not a question of extending their service to Auckland, as Mr Elliott seemed to think. It was a matter of putting on a special ferry steamer to run across the Tasman Sea, and that vessel would not go Home at. all. If one company would not furnish such a boat, and another wonld, why should the Chamber of Commerce turn suih an offer down.

The motion was then put and negatived on the voices.