7
F.—6
For instance, Canadian and American firms could write by " Marama," 15tli May, from Vancouver, due to reach Auckland 4th June, Dunedin 6th June, and replies could be despatched from both points on 20th to connect with " Manuka," 21st, from Wellington. Similarly, the Canadian and American firms can write by " Aorangi," 29th May, from San Francisco, due at Wellington 21st June, Auckland and Dunedin 22nd, and receive replies by " Marama " dated till 2nd July Dunedin, sth July Auckland, via Vancouver. The two services afford the same convenience of interval in the opposite direction for replies from Canada and America. Wellington business men may have found the former interval of six days between the arrivals and departures of the San Francisco steamers useful, but it meant that correspondence received via Vancouver could not be replied to (unless by the Vancouver mail leaving the following morning) until twenty-three days later via San Francisco. So far, the freight carried from New Zealand in the steamers to San Francisco has been largely for transhipment there to Canada —for instance, butter shipments to Canada this season totalled some 2,624,000 lb., of which over half was shipped from Wellington via San Francisco, and the balance from Auckland to Vancouver direct. I have, &c, C. HOLDSWORTH, The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington. General Manager. .. [Wn.-S.F. 12/99.]
No. 11. The Bbcbetabt, Genera) Post Office. Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Slap Company, Dunedin. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 24th May, 1912. I have the honour to acknowledge, the receipt of your letter of the 15th instant, on the subject of the complaint of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce that the steamer carrying the outward San Francisco mail leaves New Zealand on the due date of the arrival of the inward steamer. This is, of course, not always correct; and the occasions on which the inward vessel does not arrive so as to offer a, whole day for answering correspondence by the outward vessel are occasions when the time-table is not kept to. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. I Wn.-S.F. 12/110.]
No. 12. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Secretary, Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Wellington. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 24th May, 1912. In continuation of my letter of the 30th ultimo, on the subject of the time-table of the San Francisco mail-service, 1 have the honour to state that, from information furnished to this Department, it appears that the time-table now in operation is the most suitable for business purposes in the Dominion as a whole. At present American and United State's correspondents can communicate at fortnightly intervals with shippers in New Zealand, and the latter have from ten to fifteen days to winch to make inquiries and arrangements before replying by the next outgoing steamer. For instance, letters from Canadian and United States firms despatched from Vancouver by the " Marama " on the 15th instant would reach Auckland on the 4th and Dunedin on the 6th proximo, and replies could be despatched from both places on the 20th to connect with the " Manuka "-leaving Wellington for Vancouver on the 21st proximo. Similarly, letters despatched from San Francisco by the " Aorangi " on the 29th instant would reach Wellington on the 21st proximo, and Auckland and Dunedin on the 22nd idem, and replies could be sent from Dunedin on the 2nd and Auckland on the sth July to connect with the " Marama " leaving Auckland for Vancouver on the latter date. The two services afford the same convenience of interval in the opposite direction for replies from Canada and the United States. Under the present time-table of the San Francisco service the inward mail reaches Wellington the day before the despatch of the outward one ; and. unless there is a delay in arrival, Wellington business men have a whole day for answering correspondence by the outward vessel. Business men in Wellington may have found the former interval of six days between the arrivals and departures of the San Francisco steamers useful ; but under that time-table correspondence received via Vancouver could not be replied to. except by the Vancouver mail leaving the following morning, until the departure of the San Francisco mail twenty-three days later. So far the freight carried from New Zealand in the steamers to San Francisco has been largely for Canada —for instance, butter shipments to Canada this season totalled some 2,624,0001b., of which over half was shipped from Wellington via San Francisco, and the remainder from Auckland to Vancouver direct. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The Secretary, Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Wellington. Wn.-S.F. 12/111-2.]