AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICES

Waikato Times, Volume 90, Issue 14022, 27 March 1919, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN MAIL SERVICES

STATEMENT BY SHIPPING CONTROLLER. PRE-WAR CONDITIONS IMPOSSIBLE (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 27, 10.15 a.m. LONDON, March 25. Sir J. P. Maclay, Shipping Controller, at the Australian and New Zealand Club, said it would be 12 months before it would lie possible to restore the Australasian mail service on anything like the old basis. Though the owners were doing their utmost, it was impossible that the new mail contract would be anything like as favourable as the old, owing to vessels costing two and a-half to three times as much. If the P. and 0. Company secures the mail contract, it will use white crews for the Australian trade; but it is impossible to man the mercantile marine with British labour alone. Negotiations between the Board of trade and the shipowners are proceeding regarding the terms on which the vessels will be released, not controlled. The condition was that they be worked in the future to secure ■precedence for Government cargo. All the ships will probably be handed back to the owners within a month, as the Ministry of Shipping was going out of business.

VESSELS UNPROCURABLE.

LONG DELAY INEVITABLE

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received March 27, 10.30 a.m. LONDON, March 21.

A leading authority on Australian shipping, interviewed regarding the prospect of the post-war mail service, ridicules the suggestion that the Australian Government should purchase large and speedy vessels for the conveyance of mails and perishable goods. Everyone wants such vessels, which do not exist. The only vessels now purchaseable are some standardised ships. Many mail boats used as minelayers were absolutely gutted by rails laid on the decks for mine conveyance. There is no seasoned timber for their re-conversion into passenger boats, and the staff of artisiaps is quite inadequate. It would be a couple of years before the full supply of lillings was available.