THE MAILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7232, 19 October 1901, Page 4

THE MAILS.

The division on the mail contract question yesterday resulted as most people expected. The supporters of the San Fran- ' cisco service won a victory, but only by a small margin, and even then they were compelled to accept a compromise. In accordance with the decision reached yes^~ terday, the Government is empowered to make terms with tke_J£essrs Spreckela for the carriage of the New Zealand mails for a further period of one and a half years. The amount to be paid to the contractors has net been fixed, but it is stipulated that it shall not be more than £20,000 and not less than £15,000 a year. On the wh.ole we are inclined to think that Parliament has gone the right way to '■■■■' solve the problem. It is not as if it was possible- to arrange for an. immediate servicj by way of Vancouver. That is a task which cannot be acccanplished in a few days, or even in a few months. In the meanwhile, it is necewary that thecolony should be in a position to send its mails to England by a shoil route, and the shortest route is, of course, by way of San Francisco. At the end of eighteen months, let us hope the situation will be different. Then perhaps the two companies -which lave taken over the Vancouver service will have made the necessary preparations, and will be * ready to ;" include New Zealand in their operations.

Perhaps even before the expiration of thatperiod it might ba possible to establish a service between New Zealand and Vancouver. According to n. cable message published in this morning's papers it is not improbable that the Federal Croveniraent could be persuaded to release" the present contractors for the carriage of tho Vancouver mails from their agreement of ib could come to same arrangement with Messrs Spreckels to make Brisbane a port of call for the San Francisco steamers. Provided New Zealand were agreeable there is no reason why this exchange should not bs effected.