PACIFIC MAILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9912, 29 July 1910, Page 1

PACIFIC MAILS.

INDEPENDENT SERVICE FORESHADOWED. [From Our Oobrksponebnt.] WELLINGTON, July 28. A copy of the conditions on which Canada is calling for a new mail service with Australia, either direct or with a New Zealand connection, was laid on the table of the House to-day, and evoked a statement from the Prime Minister. The position of Now Zealand now is that the Australian service with Vancouver will expire in July next, and Australia will not agree to a renewal including a call at a dominion port. When th© papers were presented Mr James Allen asked whether the House would have- an opportunity' of considering: the conditions.

/file Prime Minister replied that if New Zealand was included in any tenders, no doubt th© Government would be approached in the matter. Australia had already declined to negotiate for a joint service. The tenders, he remarked, were returnable by November. "In the event of these tendors leaving out Now Zealand,'' the Prime Minister added, " I think it is beyond all question that we shall have to go in for our own service independently of Australia." A voice: Our own steamer?

The Prime Minister: I do not know about that. It is a pretty costly job. This country oannot remain in the position of being at the will of any other country in regard to these mail services. If we cannot join in the Australian contract, the importance of New Zealand demands that we must go for our own service. If these other countries do not iricludo us we will be without a Pacific mail. Mr Allen "suggested that Canada might be approached at once. The Prime Minister said that that had been done, and Canada was willing to negotiate, but the difficulty lay with Australia.

Mr Massey suggested a connection between Auckland and Suva, with transhipment, as an independent service would' bo outside the means of the dominion.

The Prime Minister said that at present New Zealand was the fifth wheel of the coach, but it could not stand out of mail and passenger services with. Canada, as it would lose a lot of money. A separate service would havo the advantage of calling at every port, making Auckland the first and last port, and stores and repairs would not be obtained in another country, as at present

Mr T. B. Taylor: Is there any prospect of a. San Francisco service? The Prime Minister: I believe there is a. possibility. Transhipment. at Suva, Sir Joseph Ward, continued, would be very costly, amounting to £14,000 or £17,000 a year. Mr Massey: What will a Canadian service cost ?

The Prime Minister: Not so very much. It is possible that a service might be obtained from London via Suez to New Zealand, touching at all the dominion ports and going on to Vancouver and returning by the same route to London. This would.be of great value to this country." " A Member: What about Central America? The Prime Minister: It may be a little- shorter, but I think we should stick to Canada, and in any case the transit- att-ftSss^co'lmtry,.,, I, have .reason to believe, would not be "satisfactory. It does not seem desirable to. look for a new route outside the line or two we have now. •

In'conclusion tlie Prime Minister assured members that the House would be consulted before, the Government came to any decision on the proposals.