VANCOUVER SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 820, 18 May 1910, Page 5

VANCOUVER SERVICE.

« REFRIGERATING SPACE< By Teleeraph—Press Associatlon-Oopjrlelil Melbourne, May 17. A3 tho result of a conference between the Union Steam Ship' Company (whicli holds the Vancouver mail sen-ice contract) and the Federal Postmaster-General (Mr. .iDsiah Thomas), the latter has announced that the company has agreed to call for tenders from shippers for refrigerating space on the '. Canadian steamers. If more space is applied for than is available-, it will be allotted pro rata. The Minister considers this a fair proposal. [On several occasions recently tho Australian Postmaster-General has emphasised the trade side of the Vancouver service, and has maintained that a good business with Canada in Australian produce can be built up.] A NEW ZEALAND PORT OF CALL. FEDERAL POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S VIEWS. Questioned by a Sydney "Daily Telegraph" representative in regard to the proposed extension of the Vancouver service, Mr. Josiah Thomas (Federal Post-master-General) said that he was anxious to see this service put on a better footing. For some considerable time it had been couductcd upon an annual tenure— a very unsatisfactory conditiou from both the public's and the shipping company's point of view. The shipping company could riot be expected to launch out in any way with only a twelve months' tenure ahead of them. "Sir James Mills has had a conference with you on this question?" said the reporter. Larger and Swifter Steamers. "Yes," rejoined Mr. Thomas, "there has been a discussion as to whether New Zealand could not be included in the Pacific service. Personally 1 favour a call being made at Auckland, if it can be done without detriment to the' interests of Australia. It seems to me the inclusion of New Zealand would he an advantage to the Commonwealth, as it would enable us to get larger and swifter steamers. , ■ "Apart from the question of mails, there is anothej i=pect that appeals to me strongly in connection with this service. We are anxious to open up fresh markets for the produce of Australia. We are looking forward to the time when our big estates will be cut up for closer, settlement purposes, when there will bo more people tilling the land and more produce to dispose of. If vc. can do anything to increase the present growing trade between Australia and Canada we shall be glad to do so. If we can have larger and faster boats, with storage for frozen produce, the opportunities of building up a substantial trade will be tho greater." "Is there any intention of dropping Brisbane as a port of call if New Zealand comes into the service''" "None whatever," replied the Postmaster General. "Then the inclusion of New Zealand will lengthen the duration of the voyage between Sydney and Vancouver?" ■ Perhaps 48 Hours Longer. "Our idea," said Mr. Thomas, " : .n that, with swifter steamers—aud I think they can be arranged for at less coct than we are paying now—tho carriage of letters from Sydney to Vancouver would not be extended more than 3G or -IS hours— not a very grave consideration, it seems to me, in view of the advantage to be'' obtained in developing the frozen produce trade. Besides, I am hopeful that as trade develops we shall be able to reduce the cable rates, so that business people may use it more freely, and even ■find it preferable to Hie mailing of letters. These are. questions I have to consider." "You say that, with the inclusion of New Zealand, we can have a bolter service at Jess cost?" "Exactly," said Mr. Thomas. "Our shnro of tho subsidy is now .£28,000. If we include New Zealand in the improved service, onr contribution would be less than we are paying now." WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. There has been much'to say in Auckland about mail services of late, in which regard there have been sharp differences of opinion between the Auckland and Wellington Chambers of Commerce as to which sorvico is in the best interests of the Dominion. The Auckland Chamber, whose views have been voiced by its president (Mr. Gunson) with lively persistence, believes that our postal salvation lies in the Vancouver service, with the steamers calling at Auckland. The Wellington Chamber has finally expressed its views on the whole question in the following letter forwarded to the secretary of the Auckland Chamber:— 'In reply to telegrams addressed by your president to the president of this Chamber, I am directed to say that this Chamber was only moved to take action by the apparent suggestion for the discontinuance of the Suez service embodied in your president's letter to tho Prime Minister It was true thai: there was no direct suggestion., but it was evident from Sir Joseph Word's reply that he read the remarks in that sense. Now, the , Suez ■ service suits our purpose admir- [ ably,. especially as to outward mails. Tim inward is capable of improvement but the service as" a whole as a weekly mail, is far more useful and valuable than any three-weokly service could possibly be. In these days, when all important transactions with the other side of the world are carried out by cable, a saving of a few days in the "delivery ot letters is not of great importance". Regularity and reliability are of much more, consequence. In these respects the Suez arrangement is useful and serviceable for the whole Dominion, and as bir Joseph Ward points out the cost as regards the European mail is onlv £10,000 a year. This Chamber is nut prepared to advocate a heavy expenditure tor a three-weekly mail service via San Irancisco or Vancouver, believing thai the money would be much better applied for both Auckland and Wellington, if devoted to the ■prosecution of the railway on the East Coast of this islandrom Napier to Gisborne, and from Gisborne northward. Prom such expenditure tho Dominion as a whole would receive rea and permanent advantage, and the Wellington Chamber will gladlv give all possible assistance in support bf tho work. Plus Chamber is not advocating any new mail subsidies, and is not aware of any movement in Wellington in favour ot a V ancouyer service of nnv sort, inv rumour to that effect is looked upon as a mere canard. It is to be regretted hat your president should have believed this Chamber to have been guilty of mean tactics 'to put Auckland off its guard.' "Yours faithfully, "S. CARROLL, "Secretary." ' ' ' I ' j ■