NEW 'FRISCO SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 906, 27 August 1910, Page 6

NEW 'FRISCO SERVICE.

AUCKLAND AND WELLINGTON INCLUDED. . Speaking in tho House at two o'clock this morning the Prime Minister stated that the Government had approved the establishment of a mail service between New Zealand and 'Frisco. The arrangement had been made with the TJ.S.S. Company. It would commence on October 22 next. Tho particulars wero tliat the steamers would go to 'Frisco from Auckland, via Rarotonga and Papeete, returning from 'Frisco, via Papeete and Jtarotonga, to Wellington. -The steamers were to bo passenger steamers, with cool storage space alid refrigerating machinery. There wore to be 13 round voyages per annum. The Government was to pay £1666 13s. 4d. for each round voyage. ■ The cost would be £12,500 more than-'the Government was paying for tho present Papeete service, which would be superseded.- In the event of the Vancouver service being established and calling at Auckland both ways the Government would, if it found the 'Frisco service satisfactory extend this .arrangement for two years with Wellington as an inward and an outward port of call. Tho time for the servic'o would bq twenty-two days, whilst the steamers" would be of tho Aorangi and .Matai class. Mr. Davey:. Tho Aorangi ? Sir Joseph: Yes, she has been reconstructed: Continuing, Sir Joseph said that the Government was di-siroua of obtaining a Vancouver service. The present service had a year to run/ They had ]iot been able to get that service with Auckland as.a port of-call. Both the- Canadian and the Australian Governments were inviting tenders for a Vancouver service. Until these wero received, it would not be possible to say whether New Zealand .would be included. On the whole, the arrangement was satisfactory. It was not by any means a costly arrangement. It gave New Zealand a chance of business in cool products with America. A transhipment was hardly worth while. Replying to an interjection,. Sir Joseph said that no tender had been accepted; it was'.a matter, of anangement for confirmation .by the House. , . . •-■-