THE MAIL QUESTION.

Observer, Volume XXX, Issue 39, 11 June 1910, Page 2

THE MAIL QUESTION.

■ rib mniu v»w»«v»« ■—-■-. A Deplorable Deadlock. . MR J. H. GUNSON, in his laudable efforts to procure an ' efficient and fast mail service between New Zealand and the Old Country, has trodden heavily - upon the abnormally'tender bunions of windy Wellington. The President of the Chamber, of Commerce of .that city (himself an old resident of despised Auckland) has returned Mr Gunson's last letter on the subject, stigmatising it as offensive. It may be admitted that there is no milk and water in Mr Gunson's letter. It is couched in a vigorous tone, and there are no " beg pardons " in "it. But who is to blame for that ? Ever since Mr Gunson mooted his idea of transforming the existing slow Vancouve." system into a fast one, the Wellington Chamber of • Commerce has, by every means in its power, at--,tempted to jrevent such a scheme from being brought to fruition. Is it any wonder, under ,the circumstances, that Mr Gunson, in his -last - , letter did .not adhere strictly to the .polished style of a Chesterfield ? > ■ l ' „' '» <. ? " , With a crass obstinacy worthy of . a,better cause, Wellington, adherea to its contention .that, the Suez ser--vice is; superior to either a Vancouver ,

or a 'Frisco one,' Assuming for, a< < moment that this is ,so, than 'there' must be a vast j lot oi v drivelling "maniacs among our business- men throughout tihe Dominion. For_,year_, be it remembered., these men have been willing to contribute to;a high subsidy 1 in order to maintain the „ 'Frisco mail service , 'when all the time the Suez service, a better (according'to Wellington) and' cheaper 1 one was procurable. As for the Vancouver (All "Red) route, had it been available, it would have been, hailed with acclamation by the business people and the general public of New Zealand — even by the business people of Wellington. It is abundantly plain, therefore, that, -when the 'Frisco service was in existence, there must have been .something radically wrong with the mental faculties of New Zealand's business meni when they preferred that route to one which,'the Wellington Chamber of Commerce says, is so much better and cheaper. The Wellington Chamber of Commerce has now, however, torn the scales from its eyes, and has recognised its past folly. It has discovered, all by, itself, that The Suez mail service is an ideal one, and it is probably wondering how it could, ever have been • so misguided as to prefer either the - Vancouver or 'Frisx> route. In a word, Wellington has suddenly made a wonderful discovery and is now , trying to open Auckland's eyes to the glory of that discovery. • Unfortunately, Auckland, with its usual blind parochialism, refuses to 6ee where the fdory comes in, and is rather apprehensive as to what Wellington will discover next. Wellington's next discovery may be that the Quickest route from Auckland to Dunedin is via Siberia and the West Indies. It,wouldn't be at all surprising. • • • Although' Auckland "is oontiually 'being accused by Southern towns of petty* provincialism, it would-seem in this instance that , Wellington is the greater sinner in that respect. Wellington wants to be the-first port of call. Auckland, in order to obtain a decent mail service for the whole Dominion, is ~ auite willing to sink her obviously , just claim tq that. If is a thousand ' pities that the existing deadlock has occurred between; the Chambers of Commerce of the two cities, in view ' of the following cablegram that peared in the dailies .recently :— ■■" Canada is calling for .tenders for four different services , from _. Vancouver, in order to secure mail contracts to Auckland, Melbourne. Sydrey, and Brisbane, when the Union Steam Ship Company's contract expires." Surely fhis is the psychological moment when the two Chambers should .unite together in an effort to bring about. such a desirable con-, summation as _an efficient and swift - Vancouver mail/.service.