MAIL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1026, 16 January 1911, Page 5

MAIL SERVICE.

CANADA TO NEW ZEALAND. CONTRACT WITH SIR J. MILLS. THE ATTITUDE OF AUSTRALIA. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Geo. Jan. 15, 5.5 p.m.) Melbourne, January 14. Mr. Fisher, the 'Commonwealth Prime Minister, has received a cablegram from Canada expressing regret that the Commonwealth declines to agreo to a Now Zealand port of.call for the mail steamers. The Government of Canada had therefore decided to enter into a contract with Sir James Mills for five years for a service from Canada to Key: Zealand. Sir. "Fisher said:—"They havo put'the matter in an aggressive way. Me said we could.not agree to the proposal because it would mean, subsidising another country." SIR J. MILLS INTERVIEWED. " (Reo. January 16, 1 a.m.) Sydney, January 15. Sir James Mills, who is a passenger by the Ulimaroa, was interviewed by wireless telegraphy yesterday. He stated that the information regarding the Canadian contract was correct. After July 31, when the present contract expires, the steamers will call at Auckland. It is hoped that Australia will join in the contract as 600n as a reciprocal tariff is arranged between Canada and Australia. Pending;, negotiations in that direction, it was intended to continue with Sydney .as the terminal'port of the line, , A SUGGESTION. Sydney, January 13. The "Sydney Morning Herald" publishes an interview with a prominent shipping, man, : who suggests overcoming the Vancouver inail deadlock by cutting out both Auckland and Brisbane as ports of call. Brisbane mails and passengers could come to Sydney and connect with Auckland by'a special service with Suva. He says the Auckland-Suva service connects with tho outgoing mail, hut returning passengers havo either to wait at Suva ten days, or come on to Sydney. Tho service would not be a real _ mail service, if it went zigzag all over the Pacific to suit local interests.