PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2724, 9 November 1871, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. Mr Yooei, said it would be remembered that in 18C9 a communication had been made to the New Zealand Government by the Queensland Government, which was favorably considered by the bon. member for Timaru, who was then at the head of the Government. Subsequently a motion of the hon. member for Fort Chalmers, Mr Mac.mdrew, was passed by the House, and acting upon that a contract was made with Mr H. Hall to provide a service at a cost which was very small indeed. Immediately after the service was fixed, and notwithstanding its cheapness, a great deal of dissatisfaction arose, merely on account of the question as to which of the ports of the Colony should be the port of call. Other complaints were made that the boats were too small, and that it was no use establishing a line unless it provided for an efficient passenger service, and ultimately a resolution was passed for the establishment of a more efficient line. That resolution was to this effect Seeing that neither of the Australian Colonies has become a party to the San Francisco steam contract, and that New Zealand has been left single-handed to initiate this line, the committee is of opinion that in the future conduct of the service, this Colony should look to its own interests exclusively ; with which view it is expedient tliat the steamers arriving at Auckland from Honolulu should proceed to Port Chalmers, instead of to Sydney calling again at Auckland on die return voyage to Honolulu. That wbh the view of carrying the foregoing proposal into effect, the Government be empowered to increase the present San Francisco mail subsidy to an extent not exceeding 1-40,000 a year.’ He had taken the names on the division, and he would read them to the House to show how far the Government were justified in entering upon the contract on the strength of the resolution. The names were Messrs Armstrong, Barff, Birch, Carlefon, Carripgton, Clark, Creighton, Dknan, Driver, Eyes, Fox, W H. Harrison, Haughton, Haultam, M Lean, Mervyn, Moorhouse, Munro, 0 .Neill OBorke, Parker, Bussell, Studholme, Swan, Tancred. Vogel, Wells, Williamson, Kelly, Kerr, Macffarlane, Main, M'Gillivray, W. Wood. Tellers:— Messrs Gillies and Macandrew. On that occasion the numbers were 36 to 16 in favor of the resolution. Such was the general direction by the House, and he made bold to say that the contract was surprisingly faithful (to the terms of that resolution. It was not a matter of slight difficulty to arrange the contract. Any member jvho would follow the papers through and look at the cross purposes that had to be fought with, would admit that the Governmeat had been remarkably successful in arranging the matter. Shortly after au accredited agent of Mr Webb came • to the colony, and a contract was made, winch bound Mr Webb undoubtedly, and Mr Hollady inferentially. It was clear sit that time that it the New Zealand Government did not make arrangement with that agent (Mr Neilson) that it was his intention to proceed at once to Australia with a view of making a contract. Before he (Mr Vogel) left for America, Mr Hall came down to arrange a service with California, and they went to Honolulu in the same steamer. It was not at all clear that the contract was binding, and in order to have no mistake in the matter he recast the contract, and it was signed by Mr Stewart, acting on behalf of the gentleman named. In a short time after he received a telegram from Messrs Webb and Holladay, ratifying the contract, which, on his arrival at Washington, was signed by them. It was important to note the fact that the subsidy expected from America was thrown out, but he had no doubt m the coming Congress it would be agreed to. The delay, however, was very trying to tbe contractor- He desired to explain that he had not attempted to put any slight on the Colony of "Victoria* He merely in* formed them that they could join in the contract if the c hoose to pay a subsidy of L6OOO In respect to New South Wales there was an understanding that they would sooner or later j"in in the contract, but it must be seen that they were not abe to enter into more hearty co ojjerati n while tbe negotiations were going on with, Mr Hall for an opposition line It must also be observed that the Australian colonies had never given them any cncouragem nt, but when the arrangements were completed ho again offered favorable terras to them to join in the piain : tenaiice of the line, but there was the disputable fact left that New Zealand would always have to pay the greater share ol the cost of the line, and it was nothing more than right that they should have the management of it. [Mr Vogel read the cost of the carrying the mails of the colony m former vears In 1867-158 the amount was L 65.000 ; JB6B-69 L 44.000 ; 1869-70, LSI,OOO ; and in 1870-7 l* 138.000.] It would bo seen from these figures that the cost of the contract was not so treat as was Opposed, The House would find that it would be to tfie intent

of the conntry to leave a great deal, indeed the whole control of the contract to the Government. The contract was originally for three years, but it was found that it would not he to the interest of the contractors to work up the line to any degree of efficiency for so short a term. Six months were already gone, and by the time the next session had expired, there would be half of the term of the contract exhausted. The contractors found that for the proper carrying out of the contract to the benefit of the colony and to themselves, it was necessary that the terms should be greatly extended, and the Government proposedthat it should be extended to ten years. It had been said that New Zealand had not sent any representative to the Postal Conference, hut the managers ■ f that Conference had entirely forgotten that there was such a colony ss New Zealand. They seemed to have fallen out with New Zealand just as a person takes offence who has injured another. They seemed only to have thought of New Zealand when the question eame of dividing the cost of their line There had been a discussion in the Victorian Assembly about the service, and the conclusion be had come to from reading the discussion on that service was that there never would be any service at all. They were not at all disposed to bo modest about the terminus being in Australia, or about the direction the line was to take. It was useless to ask them to think of throwing up the contract, because the probability was that immediately they did so it would he taken up by the Australian colonies. The proposal made by the conference for a foitnightly mail simply meant that Melbourne would get a fortnightly mail, but none of the other colonies could possibly do so. He did not say that they should not avail themselves of some of the advantages of that service, should it ever come into existence, hut he felt confident that this conference would result as all other conferences had done, in little or no practical result. Hon. members must he aware that Victoria had always discouraged the American service ; they had discouraged the Panama line to its destruction, and if they todc up an American line at all it would be out of a spirit of rivalry. But, on the other hand, if they made advances to Australia, as they ought to do, no doubt those colonies would come in and pay a fair share of the line. He knew no reason whatever why New South Wales should have taken offence at New Zealand, because they had been fairly treated. If they had adopted any unfriendly course towards those colonies, such a state af feeling might be explainable, but not having done so, they had no cause whatever to complain. New Zealand had been like a milch cow to Australia. When they considered the immense trade carried on by Australia with New Zealand, and the benefits they derived from this colony, he thought they had nothing to be thankful for to that colony. In the year 1870, L 4,600,000 worth of goods had been imported into this colony, and of that amount 1 2,000,000 worth come from the United Kingdom, and L 1.400,000 worth from Australia; ipid taking a period of three years had been imported L 14.000,000 worth of goods of whiph amount L 6,000,000 worth came from Australia. He would insist that th head-quarters of the line should be in New Zealand, making of course, proper overtures to the other colonics to join us, If the matter were left to the Government they would see that the contractors should carry out strictly the terms of the contract, or forfeit their bonds, and he had little doubt that in a sh rt time they would obtain the concurrence and assistance of the other colonics. He felt confident that the result would he that they would he able to reduce the rate of postage, and as to another point he was could nt that the Biindisi line would never b c mo so p polar a line as Mr Webb’s. Then the boats would carry wool to i-’au Francisco at the rate of one halfpenny per lb., and to New York at three half-pence per lb. In seven weeks they would put down wool in New York by way of Panama. There was another very important point that should not be lost sight of. These boats consume coal to the amount of L 30,000 per annum, and it would be a disgrace to New Zealand if they did not supply this coal, which >.nly an ordinary amount of capital and industry would be required to produce. He was disposed to alow Australia to have the line by way of the Navigator Islands, if it wished it, but if New Zealand was to pay the largest share of the service, be thought they should have the whole management of the line. The amendment of Mr Gillies would simply upset the contracts, and the Government could not accept it. It was probable that if they did so the contractors would at once pay down the 1.25,000, and have done with the contract. He would ask hon. members to keep faith with them. There would be an end of all belief on the part of any Government in tbe votes of thpse hon. members if they were to “rat” on this question. He should look upon such a proceeding as nothing more or less than political dishonesty. The hon member for Timaru had told them last year that they should not bind the Government down too tightly He said that the Government were paying too dearly for their whistle, hut that the House should give the Government a large amount of latitude. This ought not to be a party question It was a contract which could not be fulfilled in the time of one Ministry ; it would have to be carried on, no doubt, during the tenure of office of several Ministries. He appealed to those members wbo were among the Opposition, but who were not eo far blinded as to oppose the beat interests of the country. Let them support this contract, the effect of which would be to assist to raise ew Zealand in the scale of nations. Let them discard all petty considerations, and come to the consideration of the question upon its merits ; and on that ground the Government would be most happy to accept the suggestions of lion, members in assisting them to negotiate for the continuance and performance of the contract. He proposed the resolution standing on the paper.