THE SUEZ MAIL SERVICE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1155, 16 June 1911, Page 4

THE SUEZ MAIL SERVICE.

• . SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS. A strong movement, headed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, is being organised to bring pressure to bear in the liruxii'i' qmuibi's lu unerc me weuiuy uucis uiaii, via syuiiey, lrom its present route, wnicn lmtKU.s a ueiiiaiid file nrst port ol cull to Wellington. At present me man reaciies syuuey on Jioiuuiy anci me l\ew Zeauind purtiuii lias vo ne uiere until tuu stoimer leaves tnat port lor .luciuand on weUiii'»uay aiiernuou, ami amyi's, as a nue, on tiunuay, but not imreiiucntly too late to eaten tile express lor W'elliiigtiiu thai' mgilt. Tnc \\ eilingtoii C'itiiuiMer's proposal is that Me steamer sliouut leave byuney lor Wellington direct as soon as possible alter we arrival of rue mail (overland irom Adelaide) and arrive here oh iriclay morning. It tnis were done Vlie AucKiand bags euulil be dispatched by the Jlain Irunic express the samo day and arrive tiierc me lirst tiling on ri'aiuruay morning, instead ol Suuuay evening or Alonduy morning as at present The proposed arrangement would benefit' tne whole ot the iiouMUon equally, as (Jhristeliurch would receive its quota of the mail at tho same time as Auckland, and 'laraiiald, -\laiiairatu, Wairarapa, «nd Jlawke's liay would gain several days by the change. In the case of Wellington the change would be mul'crinlly beneficial as urgent letters could bo replied to by the outgoing mailboat tho same day (assuming that no alteration is made in tho outward service). On this proposal the Chambers of Commerce of t'ho Dominion aro being circularised by the Wellington Chamber. Alter outlining the proposal tho circular says:—"You will readily see that if this proposal were carried out, a very considerable improvement would bo eil'eclod, and my council is assured on very good authority that the scheme is quito workable, the only practical obstacle being that possibly it might necessitate tho vessels engaged in the service coaling at dearer market's than at present, and "therefore somo increased subsidy become necessary, but this would not be a very material increase on the present amount. My council would bo glad if your Chamber would consider the subject, and favour us with an expression of opinion on the proposal at as early a date as possible, as they would like to know that they had the sympathy and support of a largo majority of the other Chambers throughout the Dominion (to whom similar letters liavo been sent), before approaching the Government and steam ship companies."