PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1919, 15 August 1888, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY NOTES.

r ■ * i y J (FEOM ODE OWN CottEESPONDENr.) Wellington, Auguet 13. The meeting; of the frlonds oi the Sm FraDoieco mail service, held this mornlDg, wss attended by Auckland anil Napier raembera only, and, as far aa I can aaoertain, the Government proposal to renew the service will be defeated if pressed. The Government however, will not make a party question of the matter, but will be content to take the decision of the House on it. They will then be able to say thit they have kept faith with their. Auckland friends, but that the opposition of the House has been too strong for them. The San Francisco mail eerv:c9 and Mr Larnnoh's breaoh of privilege caaj have been the topics of dsoussion m the lobbhs t' -day. So far as I can discover, the San Franoisco service is distinctly out of favor with most members. The Government is of oonrae compelled by the Auckland vote to make a fight for it. The Aucklandars are for it to a man, and they have thß support of Hawke'a Bay ; but beyond the member for Lyitelton 1 know of no southern member m favor of it ezoapt Mr James Mills Mr Mills, however, means the Union Steamship Company, and that means a good deal I do not quite understand what the Union Company's motive is m supporting the existing state of thincja, but I fancy they find the oarr>ing of the mail coastwise Is a lucrative busineso, and fe*r that if tbe San Francisco service were out of tbe way, and the direct Steam Companies were subsidised, they might think it worth while to run two or three coastal stoamets. But m soite of the Union Company's influence, I do not think that either the Fan Francisco or Vancouver service has much chance. I may be wrong, but I thitk the inclination of the Houae just at present is that any loaves and fishes there are ought to go to the direct Steam Companies. These last-named have today submitted to the Postmaster-General an offer to tender for a fortnightly direct aervioe both ways, on moderate terms.