AUCKLAND SYDNEY MAILS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2983, 17 May 1911, Page 36

AUCKLAND SYDNEY MAILS.

THREE DAYS' SERVICE DEMANDED. AUCKLAND, May 12. The subject of a three days' service between Auckland and Sydney was discussed by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce this afternoon.

The President (Mr Leo Myers) read and laid upon the table 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 she 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 the matter drop, and 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 years the time had come when the distance between 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 to Auckland the people should be satisfied, regardless of the time ■ the steamers took, was a thing that would not appeal to commercial men. The Chamber of Commerce had not the slightest desire to regard the matter from a provincial standpoint. It was purely a national matter -that passengers and other communication with 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 reduced to three days. The Moana had done the run in three days 18 hours, and there could be no reasonable objection to accelei'atmg the speed of vessels except that of cost. If the cost, as Sir J. Mills had pointed out, was such that the company 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 oommerce, would be agreeable to recommend a reasonable subsidy for the Union Company or any other company to bring about a three days' service. They could not expert 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, and a just claim would receive support. He moved—- '' That whilst this chamber recognises the enterprise of the Union Company during the past 25 years, it is of opinion that the 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. It seemed to be impossible to bring the Maheno 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 cargoes 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 devote itself to one thing at a time. _ After some further discussion, the president's motion was carried. Mr Gunson moved—" That the P. and O. Company be requested to advise this chamber whether they can favourably consider the question of providing a weekly three days' steam service between Auckland and Sydney." This would, he said, let the Union Steam Ship Company see that they were not the only fish in the pond.—(Applause.) Mr B. Kent seconded the motion. Mr Elliott said there . was not the slightest possible chance of the P. and O. Company acceding to the request, and in his opinion such a motion should not be passed upon the spur of the moment, for it was too serious. The President thought there was a good deal in what Mr Elliott said, but there would be no harm in asking the question. The Union Steam Ship Company had not treated Auckland too generously, perhaps, but they would no doubt •regard the motion as a threat. Mr Gunson, in reply, said he was sorry the adverse views expressed had been taken. He looked upon it as a purely business question, and if they could get more satisfaction from another company than they received from the Union Steam Ship 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 done well by its trade with the Dominion. He believed the P. and O. 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 would, why should the Chamber of Commerce turn such an offer down.

The motion was then put and negatived on the voices.