THE NEW MAIL SERVICE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2947, 7 September 1910, Page 12

THE NEW MAIL SERVICE.

REPLY TO AUCKLAND CRITICISM. STATEMENT BY SIR J. G. WARD. WELLINGTON, August 30. The Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) to-day sent the following telegram to Mr G. H. Gunson (president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce): —“I note the resolutions passed by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and in reply. desiro to say that in passing them your chamber has apparently overlooked the following facts ; “1. That the total amount paid for the late San Francisco service ran to between £65,000 and £75,000 a year. “2. On inquiry of the Union Company some time ago in connection with a proposal to establish a ’Frisco service from Auckland to ’Frisco and back to Auckland and on to Sydney, with fast steamers, the lowest amount it could be entertained at was between £BO,OOO and £IOO,OOO per annum, varying between those two amounts in accordance with the class of steamers provided —that was for a service from Auckland to Fiji, and thence on to San Francisco by way of Honolulu; the price asked, therefore, placed such a service beyond what this country is prepared to pay for at present. “3. The present service is not suggested as being a first-class one, but I do not agree with your views regarding the two steamers that are to be employed From what I know their passenger accommodation is superior to that of any of the steamers running formerly, and they provide refrigerating cargo space, which is very important. The speed is not so great as I should like to see, for the reason that we are not prepared to pay the cost that such a fast service would entail. “4. In considering the service the important question of the importation of fruit from the Islands to Wellington, so as to enable it to bo distributed to the southern portions of the North Island as well as to the northern portions of the South Island, had to be provided for. “ Under these circumstances, as wo obtain both .-services for a reasonable sum, I am of opinion that for the present it is the best that can be done, though I look forward to seeing a Vancouver service established within a reasonable period. If we cannot secure the latter service, the question of a fast and un-to-date service via, San Francisco will have to be considered. You will recognise that in any case wo cannot pay for two fast Pacific services, as the amount required for both would bo too great.