SAN FRANCISCO AND VANCOUVER MAIL-SERVICES. (STATEMENT SHOWING COST FOR CONVEYANCE OF MAILS DURING 1896 BY ALL OCEAN-MAIL ROUTES, AND THE ESTIMATED PAYMENTS UNDER THE NEW PROPOSALS.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, F-06c

F.—6c.

Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

SAN FRANCISCO AND VANCOUVER MAIL-SERVICES. (STATEMENT SHOWING COST FOR CONVEYANCE OF MAILS DURING 1896 BY ALL OCEAN-MAIL ROUTES, AND THE ESTIMATED PAYMENTS UNDER THE NEW PROPOSALS.)

Laid upon the Table by the Bt. Hon. B. J. Seddon, with the Leave of the House.

The proposals submitted in connection with the San Francisco and Vancouver mail-services provide for both services terminating on the 31st March, 1899. The subsidy of £28,000 a year granted by the United States to the San Francisco service expires in June, 1898. The contract providing for a payment of £10,000 a year by the New South Wales Government to the Vancouver service ends in May, 1899, and the Canadian Government's contract (£25,000 per annum) in 1903. The fast Atlantic service to connect with the Vancouver line does not commence until about May, 1899. By contracting for the services up to March, 1899, the House will have an opportunity next session to reconsider the whole question of ocean-mail communication, after learning the future intentions of the New South Wales and United States Governments in respect of the Pacific services. It has been assumed that nearly the whole of the correspondence from New Zealand for Great Britain, &c, will be forwarded by the fortnightly Pacific routes, and will be fairly divided. The estimated annual amount payable to each of the companies on the following basis would be £7,180 :— Letters at 10s. sd. per pound ... ... ... ... ... £4,973 Books, &c, at Is. „ ... ... ... ... ... 634 Newspapers at 6d. „ ... ... ... ... ... 1,573 £7,180

P.—6o.

Comparative Statement of Cost of Ocean-mail Services for 1896 and Estimated Payments under the New Proposals.

Approximate Cost of Paper .—Preparation, not given ; printing (1,450 copies), £1.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB97. Price, 3d.]

2

'MSI iimal 'aymen Jβ uni [<!]■ i»w 'roposal is. San Francisco Service. Payments to contractors Interprovincial service, mail agents, &c. Transit charges, San Francisco-New York Transit charges, New York-Queenstown £ .. 7,623 .. 3,798 .. 4,770 .. 1,967 San Francisco Service. £ Guaranteed minimum payment to contractors .. 7,500 Interprovincial service, mail agents, &c. .. 3,600 Transit charges, San Francisco-New York .. 2,798 Transit charges, New York-Queenstown .. 1,156 Total .. 18,158 Total .. .. .. .. 15,051 Vancouver Service. Guaranteed minimum payment to contractors .. 7,500 Interprovincial service, mail agents, &c. .. 3,600 Transit charges across Canada .. .. 578 Transit charges across United States .. .. 513 Transit charges across Atlantic .. .. 1,156 P. and O. and Orient Services. Payments to contracting Colonies Transit charges across Australia Transit charges across Europe.. Transit from New Zealand to Australia .. 3,685 238 587 785 Total ... .. .. .. 13,347 P. and 0. and Orient Services. Payments to contracting Colonies .. .. 1,500 Transit charges across Australia .. .. 97 Transit charges across Europe .. .. 239 Transit from New Zealand to Australia .. 319 Total .. .. 5,295 Total .. v . .. .. 2,155 Direct Service. Direct Service. Gratuity payments 300 Gratuity payments .. .. .. .. 150 Grand total, all services .. .. 23,753 Grand total, all services .. .. 30,706 Increase under new proposals .. 6,953