"THE CENTRE FOR MAILS."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 912, 3 September 1910, Page 5

"THE CENTRE FOR MAILS."

WELLINGTON'S POSITION. - A CHRISTCHURCH VIEW. (By TeleErarli.-Preßs Association.) . Chrlstchurch, September 2. The attitude of, Cliristchurch towards the Pacific mail service generally and tho squabbles between Auckland find,. Wellington as regards the port of call were commented on to a "Press" representative : to-day- by Mr. F. E. Jones, president of the Canterbury- Chamber. Mr. Jones said that his views "were not only his own,, but were also those of other prominent, business men whom he had consulted, on the matter.' -The proposed new. Frisco service (said Mr. Jones) was , one;' that x no doubt would servo, as another means of outlet for our''produce,-both at the Islands and at. the. United States, and was, in this respect,...- an ■;* advantage , : to the Dominion. As a mail service to America it would also be-useful and appreciated. The fact that the .steamers were obsolete would not, of course,' ensure, an Up-to-date r service that would be. calculated to attract passenger traffic. ■That* Wellington was undoubtedly the best, port of :calL was obvious to anyone.'' Now'that the North Island Main Trunk railway was complete,' the mails could be landed at , Auckland from Wellington very , little, later than they would be if the steamer called there first, whilst 'Wellington and the South Island would receive their,mails .probably twelve hour's earlier, so that the convenience. of three-quarters of the Dominion would be.better served by Wellington as.the:port of call than. by. 'Auckland , .. . *■*.'■',. '' . The proposal for. the boats .te ;call; at two ports was; an-excellent 'oii'e,-* , and he thought Lyttelton and Wellington should bo. the' ports of call, on account of the possibility:of frozen meat , -being-| 'exported;, to the States in the future. In, Christchurch: there was no jealousy in- the matter,: and "so long as the interests, of v-tlio** Dominion were best , served, they 'yere satisfied- ,to abide' by whatever was best. : *' : ..' •,•,...

. He thought, most,decidedly, that tho Government should: stipulate that one rate of freight.should ■Uβ charged from all main : port's, so": that no special advantage would be. given to any ono : port for what oftlie Dominion haiijtoi-pay.'-.. .''; V. •■■.•:■,'■■■■■■■;«..■'...'..•■. ; ■ '; With regard to' surliness on the . .new ... Frisco ' servico, /the*! northern city| had-long .enjoy«d almost a monopoly,.of ~the; . ■.lsland, trade, au'd} : ,no doubt,, she wasV'jealqus; of thelpossibilfyy..of Wellington'becoming' a- com-, petitor. *■>'".•,;■'.,• ..';'• ■■- / '; v . In regardto the; -weeldy, Suez mails via Aucklandj-.these" ha 4 so regular of, lato that''tjiey. liaii-.boen found.'.i'to; suit local requirements, admirably. , - Ori ono or two occasions ,the mail had been landedvin Christchurcli V on ' Saturday," .owing ..to a special boat being available 'to bring it over from, Sydney to-.-AVel-.lingtpn.VThere .was: evidently a delay of one or. two,days; in ■ Australia;.which ; it- should. , be- quite possible ; to .over-, come' by that, : . 'the Sydney biiat should • leave for ;■ Now', .Zealand immediately on tlie- arrival of. the .mail from Melbourne.: ■•/ ; ■ \ ;■'■'.: ■'■■■' ' AYjth regard , to Auckland's advocacy for inclusion 'as a. port of call in the .Vancouver;. serviceV. Mr. Jones said that .Auckland was: riot the,: natural port .for serving, the : Dominion •: with, oversea mail's; Wellington', was the'-. port. It would not take the. boat .much longer to, get to Wellington than round Cape Maria: Ya_ri Dieman;. • arid , , the : South Island could be served so much quicker by Wellington, which was undoubtedly, the natural distributing centre- ■ for mails. . "■ -. -' . .-■• .. ,-.' . ; ' .