THOSE -MAILS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 929, 23 September 1910, Page 5

THOSE -MAILS.

■PRIME MINISTER ON AUCKLAND. BATTLE ROYAL. STAUNCH ON VANCOUVER SERVICE. Interviewed yesterday in reference to tho attitude of tho Auckland Chamber of; Commerce to the Pacific mail question, the, Prinio Minister remarked that no doubt Mr. Gunson was quite entitled to express his opinion as to what'he thought of his (Sir Joseph Ward's)' inability to appreciate tho responsibilities of his position, but ; he was afraid that if ho attempted to exercise his powers in tho way suggested by; Mr. Gunson ho would not be able to retain his position very long. In hie opinion it would be much better ; for the prospects of a satisfactory Pacific service if a little more discretion and allittle less "parade" were 6hown by .the: chairman of the. Auckland Chamber of : . Commerce- ;' ,/-■ .••'"•'-.. ',// ■ No doubt Mr. Gunson was .very desirous of, seeing an improved service established, but he completely ignored'the.fact : that for some time this country kid been, exercising its best/influence to bring about an up-to-date Vancouver service, touching at Auckland, and. that tho •Prime Minister of had intimated some/time ago his' intention to invite tenders with this object. But. before -the time had arrived for the Canadian or New Zealand Governments to deal intelligently with this important proposal Mr. Gunson had'indulged in a line of criticism that, had little to: recommend it except an impetuous desire to 'see another Pacific/mail; service r . established.- with American-owned .steamers, .at a cost of a 34,000 a year. From information : received, he (the ./Prime Minister) understood'that that was only contingent: on other, circumstances. Tho adoption of the course suggested;.by: Mr. Gunson might very .easily result in having to refuse to entertain what, ought! to be a ; very much finer service (especially '.in '.■-regard'."'' to. steamers),: via Vancouver, when' the time, arrived for that, to be dealt with..'./.•'.

.Apart from that, it was on the face of it-asking him to.do an absolutely stupid thing when : it. was.proposed .to cancel' arrangeineuts;already. made with the Union Company; for. :two. "steamers V"for;' .twelve ■months, to, carry, on .the double"purpose :'of'-;ah outward'passenger,and :cargo;service /-from■ Auckland to.-.San,,: Francisco,, .and to. on ; the return*'via, the -Islands,.with f r'uit/shipments. /.In \ the; •last; paragraph -of/his telegram' /to"-Mr./ Gunson/lie':uad;/stated/.;that. the/Island service must:: be/considered when'providing/a general Pacific/service. ;.Whcn. ad- ■ justing/the 'mail 1 service/ if ; it was, for. instance,''to be 1 a'Vancouver service,:they'.. would; require to/ continuo" the Island; service'in/spine ;form ;he; ; .'a ,; , Sah ;Franciscb./service;,'.v.\rith>,v fast 'steamers tbucliirig 7 ;at'.:Auckland,;and go-' :ing; : pn ; ,'.to':'.Sydhey,':*they.. would [still',; re-, :quire' -"_tb-J- provide; ah "Island Jiservice':;, to .Wellington: '!■.■' Hoiv-,thati' could: in i'. any! way he ; :converted:inl:p;'such an idea 1 as' that .suggested by Mr:,': Gunson :pnly' Mr.: .Gun-', , son :can; explain:-//-/./' :■ // ;.' ,|// : /

'■-■-. Personally-he had ho-objectibri;. and had no,right to;object, i tb;the; , Aucklan(l Chamber/of; fommerce making-suggestions;as to a possible'mail service,'but lie ;was. convinced that, it'-, did not: help' to a -solution of'a very .difficult problem. ,He did ;.know- -;that,"'.when';-;endeavouring, to V arr&nge. for.-,the,present Vancouver steamers -to ;.cap ■ ati Auckland .'-for' the' unexpired : pbirtion of the present contract,, the statements made and ..published 'in Auckland .had the effect. ofibringing l the;negotiations to-a sudden-, end..;;,,', :;'-... -. '■/-' He';was : ..equally ;conndeht that 1 the at-, itempt.nbw being made by'the Chamber of .Commerce 16 ~induce Auckland' mem-, 'bars-:'to, vote • agaiiist the 'present airaage-inent;\with-'■'■.the -Union' Company would, •have the;effect of-turning into a/hostile camp, many members who, 'under ordinary conditions,', would do ;the fair and right thing;as:far,as„estabb'.Bhing. a'Pacifio mail "service to cali:-at.; Auckland ;was}.con i ■cerned.' .-. -The effort of the. Qovernmemt '.'was'.tq: secure -a..'fast'.and; upTto-date eer...between Auckland , ana .Vaaioouveri and. it.',w ; as:'certain" that- the" abuse by, tbe; president l -of the .Auckland: Chamber 0f..-Commerce,..as; to,'iucapacity of. the6«v6rnmeht "in a;:'matter • of.; this i sort, ■W-buld ;hot have any' effect upon the. attitude':;of; the,; Government 'one way or the'other.-' ...-.;.'■"■ '■;,-:-: ■--..-■ ;"■'; .