OCEAN MAILS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 881, 29 July 1910, Page 5

OCEAN MAILS.

CONNECTION WITH CANADA. NEW ZEALAND SERVICE SUGGESTED THE PREMISS'S VIEWS. - The New Zealand Government has res ceived from the Canadian Government the conditions of tender for a mail service between Canada, Australia, ' and Now Zealand. Tenders will bo received up to noon on November 1, 1910. Tho service is to consist of a sailing every four weeks from Vancouver, and tenders will be received for proposals for the service on the following alternative routes:— (a) Sailing from Vancouver, calling at Victoria, Honolulu, Suva, and Brisbane, to Sydney, and return to Vancouver. (b) Sailing from Vancouver, calling at Victoria, Honolulu, Suva, Auckland, and Sydney, to Melbourne, and return to Vancouver. (c) Sailing from Vancouver, calling at Victoria, Honolulu, Suva, Auckland, and Sydney, to Brisbane, and return to Vancouver. . f (d) Sailing from and returning to Vancouver, and calling emh way at such of the ports hereinbefore stated as may be • specified by thoso submitting proposals. The service is to commence four weeka after the present contract with the Union Company, which expires on July 31, 1911. Alternative tenders are invited for tonus of threo or five years. Preference will be given to vessels providing, amongst other things,' the most satisfactory refrigerator and insulated space. The vessels to bo employed arc to blbss Alt and to run under the British flag. The Premier's Views Questioned by Mr. James Allen, MJP. for Bruce, as to where New Zealand stood in regard to the question of tho Vancouver service, the Prime Minister stated that the matter was in abeya ace pending. tho receipt by Canada of tenders for a service. If Canada got a satisfactory tender which did not include New Zealand, this country would not be consulted, but if New Zealand were included in tho tender he presumed that it would bo consulted. The House would have an opportunity to discuss the matter, for it might be that New Zealand might have to go on its own account. New Zealand had already asked that it should be included; Mr. Allen: What was the answer?. Sir Joseph renlied that Australia had declined to allow New Zealand to come in until tho expiry of the present contract in July, 1911. He went on to say : that tho'terms of the contract for which Canada was calling tenders wore of an . alternative nature, New Zealand being included in ono instance and left out is another. Mr. Allen: When ato tho tenders returnable ? Sir Joseph: In November, 1010. New Zealand's Position. The Prime Minister stated that the postii tinn k> far a3 N&w Zealand was concerned was pretty clear. The present Vancouver service was an Australian and Canadian one. If the new contract did not include New Zealand it was beyond question that New Zealand would hnvo to go in for a service of its own. Mr. T. E. Taylor: Our own steamers?. Sir Joseph continued lhat ; that' would be a pretty costly job. New Zealand, however, could not remain in the position of being at the whim of another country in regard to a mail service. He hoped that New Zealand would .bo included in the contract on good terms, for New Zealand had a preferential tvade with Canada, whilst Australia had not. If Zealand could not get a service witb Canada it must havo one with, some other country. Mr. James Allen expressed the opinion that Now Zealand should approach Canada on tho matter before a tender was. accepted. Sir. Joseph: They havejjeen approached at different times. " Mr. AHen: If we extend a friendly hand ,to.Canada they may Zealand, a party to the contract'.-'- ; Difficulty with Australia. The Prime Minister added that the diS> ficulty up till now had not'been with Canada, but with .Australia. Canada had been willing to allow the steamers to call at New Zealand, but not so Australia . since the steamers were diverted from New Zealand to Australia 14 years ago.' by the inclusion of Brisbane. Canada was in the same difficulty as New Zealand in that Australia wanted Brisbane included. Personally he had come to the conclusion that at all events New Zealand might * ha™ to get its uwii sDrvico. Whilst New Zealand would welcome a satisfactory arrangement with Canada and Australia, this country was not going to stand by and do nothing. Mr. Massey: Hear, hear. Mr. Massey's Views,

Mr. Massey said that in caso of Nβ* Zealand not being able to arrange foi the Canadian steamers to cnll at a New Zealand port, he would like to ask il tho Prime Minister would make arrangements for a connecting mail service witt Suva. That would 'not be satisfactory, but it would be better than nothing. Personally, he was very strongly in. favour of improving our mail service, niKl he thought that the, Canadian route was the one to take, but if it depended on ourselves alone to provide such a service, if it was not possible to work with Canada, the cost of. the service would be a long way beyond our means. He thought that the Prime Minister should <Hve the House an opportunity of considering tho whole question very soon— certainly this session. Mr. Malcolm (Clntba) asked if the Prime Minister had considered_ the possibility of securing a service via Central America in tho near future. _ Tho Prime Minister, in replying, said that the country had a very good mail service via Suez. Mr. Massoy: It is very slow. Tho Prime Minister: It is a very good service, aud comparatively inexpensive. Ho had been talking of a mail service across the Pacific. If w.e could not share in such a service under the conditions we -were entitled to, it -was a question whether we should not go in for it ourselves. "He did not agree that the cost would be excessive. He thought that the advantage of. keeping the steamers in our own waters, and touching at the largo ports of New Zealand, making Auckland the first and hilar port ot call, would be worth a great deal more to New Zealand than the extra cost we should pay. At present we were paying Sre -quarters o? the tofalsnb9.hr. and moat of tho ljem-fit went to Australia. We "herald consider the desirability of having a service belonging to our own , country, and'keeping the money for stores, repairs, etc., in New Zealand.

A San Francisco Service, Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North): Is there any possibility of reviving the San Francisco service? Sir Joseph Ward: I think there is. Continuing, tho Prime Minister said he did not believe in bolstering up a service that did not touch at this country. The trans-shipping service with Suva cost £14,000 or .E17.C00 a year, and it was -not composed of very fast steamers. He did not know the cost of the Canadian service, hut he -thought thai we should be able to get it from Canada clear round via SueiTand home again, and -have both services. Up to now, we had displayed a great deal of generosity in paying a great amount for services in which New Zealand i>;as the fifth wheel of the coach, and did not set that consideration which he thought the importance of this country warranted. Before, the Government arrived at a decision on the question thev would have to consult Parliament, and put the" question , before them. Nothing could be done until advice was received from Canada in regard to its proposals. Via Central America. Speaking of the possibility of establishing a service via Central America, tho Prime Minister said:—l am inclined to think that if we can wo should stick to Canada. I do not v.ish to say anything against another Government, but from tho information in my possession I am not quite sure that the terms' we could gel for transit across Chile would be satisfactory. It does not appear to be desirable to go looking for a new route outside the one or two we have at the present nio. niont,