SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4901, 19 October 1901, Page 1

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

Melbourne, October 16.

Sir J. G. Ward has cabled Mr Drake asking whether some arrangement cannot be made whereby New Zealand shall be made a party to the P. and 0. and Orient i mail contracts, with a view to diverting the New Zealand English mails to the Suez route. The Cabinet will consider the question as soon as Mr Reid's censure motion is disposed of. Sydney, October 16. The ' Daily Telegraph,' dealing with the trouble in New Zealand over the San Francisco proposals, says that the Vancouver line presents many attractions to New Zealand, and would make such a formidable appearance as a rival to the 'Frisco line under New Zealand's support that the Commonwealth, finding other conditions equal, may yet have to consider whether it shall subsidise a British or foreign line to North America. It is quite possible that Mr Spreckela will find it to his interest to ring smaller, )

both in Australia and New Zealand, In order to preserve his right to the present; fat American subsidy. Brisbane, October 16. Regarding the statements aaid to have been made ia New Zealand by Me Sprocket's representative as to the possibility of extending the 'Frisco mail service to Queensland if the New Zealand proposals are hot accepted, the Premier states that he has received no communication of any kind whatever from Mr Spreckels. Tbe Queensland arrangement with the Canadian line has still two or three years to run, and the Government bad no power to complete negotiations with Spreckels Bros., that being a matter entirely with the Federal Government.