VANCOUVER SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 817, 14 May 1910, Page 5

VANCOUVER SERVICE.

4A NEW ZEALAND CALL. SOME PERTURBATION IN SYDNEY. By TolcEraph—Press Association—OoiiyriEht Sydney, May 13. The Postmaster-General (Mr. Josiak Thomas) has received a cable message from Canada completing arrangements for the extension of the Vancouver mail service, under existing conditions, for another year from the expiration of the present contract in August next. A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce waited on the PostmasterGeneral and aired a number of grievances. Thoy urged that the carrying out of the proposal for- the extension of the Vancouver service to Auckland would be a serious .matter for those sending correspondence; the first necessity of mail transit being speed. i The Postmaster-General reiterated his desfre to encourage the development of trade, and said that with larger and speedier vessels the time occupied would not be greater than at.present. Another complaint made by the deputation was with regard to alleged delay in sorting mails from New Zealand. A promise was given that this would ho remedied. PORT OF CALL-AUCKLAND AND . WELLINGTON. EXCHANGE OF TELEGRAMS. According to the "Auckland Herald," some interesting communications have been passing between Auckland and Wellington with special reference to the .proposed port of call in New Zealand in connection with the Vancouver service.; . Wiring to Mr. Gunson, chairman of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, Sir Joseph Ward said: "In reply' to 'your telegram of the 7th inst., you will readily understand that I really cannot _bo expected to take part'in the .controversy between the Auckland and Wellington Chambers of Commerce on the question of mail services. Tho port of call I have named in my communication is Auckland.' As 60on as I am in a ■ position to announce anything definite I will be only too pleased to advise you." In reply to the Prime Minister's telegram Mr. Gunson dispatched the following message: — "Many thanks for your thoughtful tek'grams. I quite understand that you do not wish to bo drawn 'into a controversy with tho two Chambers, but as'you have stated that Auckland shall be tho • port of call—a decision, no doubt, due to its importance and geographical situation— we were anxious to thwart any move detrimental to the north and to the Dominion generally. We now anxiously await tho consummation of. the improved Vancouver service as ..advocated in our several, .telegrams, which proposals through you are -evidently approved by the Federal Postmaster-General, vide to-night'a cables." The following telegrams have passed between Mr. Gunson, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and Mr. H. C. Towsley, president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce:— . "Gunsoni ' Commerce, Auckland: Please wire name Wellington firm endeavouring arrange Vancouver mail service. Will inquire into.— Tewsley." "H. C. Tewsley, Chamber Commerce, Wellington: Tour wire to hand. Kindly wire what influence is at work to subsidise direct liners and make Wellington port of call. On receipt of this information yonr application will be favourably considered.—Gunson." "Gunson, Chamber of Commerce, Auckland: Know of none, and do not believe, there is any. —Tewsley." "H. C. Tewsley, Wellington: If no influence at work, why hesitate about joining us ior tho Vancouver service with Auckland, as port of call? Surely you havo not so soon forgotten Auckland's greatness commercially and its geographical situation for this service -^Gunson." "FOR THE NEEDS OF THE NORTH." ' AUCKLAND FEELING. (By Telceranh—Press Association.) Auckland, May 13. Despite news conveyed ,in to-day's cable from Australia in; reference to the Vancouver mail service, Mr. J. H. Gunson (chairman of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce), who has been fighting strenuously, to make Auckland the port of call for the service, does not yet intend to give up the struggle. Speaking to a "Herald" reporter tonight, Mr. Gunson said that he had not yet been in receipt of any official advice on the. matter.

"from the outset," he said, "we have known that Canada's co-operation must be secured before the service can be extended to Auckland. Despite some protest from Brisbane, and the protest of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, I bad good ground for hoping, in view of the strong support given-.by the Federal Postmaster-General to our Government's representations (backed by Sir Joseph Ward's personal efforts and Sir James Mills's support), that we would secure the Auckland call. From the ■ press cables now to hand, it would seam that the stumbling block is found in Canada's apathy in respect to ( the present proposal. The cable, however, must not be accepted as a final pronouncement. "I would like further to say," continned Mr. Gunson, "that if the proposed Auckland call by the present Vancouver steamers is vetoed, that will not, by any means, eshaust my Chamber's resources on this question. -We are determined to have a speedy, regular, and up-to-date mail service- by the best class of vessels from New Zealand across the Pacific, arid, to that end, most strenuous, work will be undertaken after the late King's funeral, when I shall be in possession of full data. I shall renew the work on wh.at my Chamber con-, sidcrs is the service most adapted, from every standpoint, for the needs of, the north and the Dominion generally."