F.—6

36

No. 109

The Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, Wellington, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. Department of Agriculture, Commerce, and Tourists, (Memorandum.) Wellington, 23rd June, 1911. With reference to your memorandum of 10th instant, forwarding a copy of the letter of 6th June from the General Manager of the Union Steam Ship Company in regard to the conditions of the contract respecting the New Zealand - Vancouver steamer service, the Hon. Minister of Industries and Commerce has, after full consideration of the matter, decided that the company should be informed that the proposed reservation of space until the Ist September is not of much value to New Zealand shippers, and should be asked to reserve at least a third of the refrigerated space in each boat until three weeks before the date of sailing from Sydney, ft is considered that the reduction of the period from four weeks to three weeks would be of considerable benefit to New Zealand exporters, and would not unduly hamper the allotment in Australia of any space remaining unbooked in New Zealand. The Minister also wishes the company to be urged to quote, if possible, a lower rate than 12s. 6d. per ton for coastal freight in New Zealand on shipments going to Auckland for transhipment to the Vancouver boats. The Minister also desires that it should be made clear to the company that the arrangements now being made in regard to refrigerated space apply only to the period ending 31st July, 1912, and that arrangements for the balance of the term of the contract must be negotiated when the results of the first season's working are available. I presume you will communicate with the company accordingly. F. S. Pope, Secretary. The Secretary, Post and Telegraph Department. Wellington. [Vane. Misc. 11/148.]

No. 110. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 23rd June, 1911. Vancouver service : Department of Commerce advises that Minister has, after full consideration of the matter, decided that your company should be informed that the proposed reservation of space until the Ist September is not of much value to New Zealand shippers, and should be asked to reserve at least a third of the refrigerated space in each boat until three weeks before date of sailing from Sydney. It is considered that reduction of period from four weeks to three weeks would be of considerable benefit to New Zealand exporters, and would not unduly hamper allotment in Australia of any space remaining unbooked in New Zealand. Minister also wishes that your company be urged to quote, if possible, lower rate than 12s. 6d. ton for coastal freight in New Zealand on shipments going to Auckland for transhipment to Vancouver boats. Minister also desires that it should be made clear to your company that arrangements now being made in regard to refrigerated space apply only to period ending the 31st July, 1912, and that arrangements for balance of term of contract must be negotiated when results of first season's working are available. [Vane. Misc. 11/153.]

No. 111. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 23rd June, 1911. I now beg to confirm my telegram of this day's date on the subject of the reservation of refrigerated space in the Vancouver steamers for New Zealand shippers, and to forward the full text of the reply received from the Department of Commerce to my memorandum of the 10th instant. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. C. Holdsworth, Esq., Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. [Vane. Misc. 11/149.]

No. 112. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin, to the Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. (Telegram.) Dunedin, 23rd June, 1911. Regret your proposals regarding insulated space are not satisfactory. I would suggest position is not clearly understood. Under our proposal, whole of space is at option of New Zealand up to Ist July, while as regards dairy-produce, time could be extended to Ist September, thereafter 2,000 cubic feet space to be reserved to within four weeks of steamers leaving Sydney. Having in view custom to engage space for long periods and of importers to purchase ahead, also shippers paying