The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1873

Evening Star, Issue 3127, 26 February 1873, Page 2

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1873

Wk liave not had time to do move than glance at the report of the proceedings of the Intercolonial Conference, a summary of which is published in this evening’s edition. In view of the many important subjects brought under consideration, it cannot be said that the meeting has been unproductive of results, although the unreasonable, and wc may almost say unreasoning, jealousy subsisting between Victoria and New South Wales has been a bar to thoroughly harmonious action. So far as the question of terminus of the Galle lino was concerned, those two Colonics wore alone interested. 'Viewed in the light of a postal arrangement, which necessarily implies the most rapid mode of transit of letters and newspapers, there can be uo doubt that the majority of the Conference took the correct view of (he matter; and wc apprehend a postal service was all they were called upon to consider. It was for the consideration of the Peninsular and Oriental Company whether, after having despatched their mads, and thus fullilled their postal contract, they would send their vessels forward to Sydney with goods and passengers. If by so doing any reduction in the cost of the service could be effected, to that extent the question came fairly within the subjects to he discussed; hut as an increase in expense rather than a saving would have resulted, the delegates of New South Wales asked too much when, they proposed to saddle the rest of the Australasian group with that extra amount for the special benefit of the port of Sydney. Mr I.v.vks, one of the Tasmanian representatives, endeavored _to smooth the matter over by proposing that — Pending the establishment of a second Mail Service between Europe and New South Wales, in any new contract which may he entered into for the service from Galle, it he provided that the mails for New South Wales and Queensland should be continued to be delivered in Sydney, subject to the condition of New South Wales engaging to bear any excess of cost which may arise from the mails being conveyed beyond Melbourne by the mail steamer.

The motion was fully discussed and negatived, and, in consequence, a protest was entered by the Sydney delegates, which will be interesting as a sample of the logic of New Soutli Wales, in estimating the value of the objections, it must not be forgotten that the Conference had already decided to adopt means to deliver mails in Sydney twenty-two hours earlier than could be done by steamer, so that tire advantage of receiving them by the quickest and cheapest route will be secured. The protest entered upon the records of the proceedings of the Conference was as follows : We, the undersigned Representatives of the Government of New .South Wales, duly accredited to tliis Conference, having in our place* protested against the resolution adopted by a majority .on the 27th January, rrow desire to record our pv/>tgyt against the grounds on which the Conference has _ decided that the terminus of the Mail Service yia the Red Sea ami Point de Galle shall be at Melbourne.

Ist. Because the Galle Service is the premier Australian Service, and the only Service supported by the Imperial Government in the interest of all the Colonies, ami ought therefore to he arranged and contracted for in view of securing its Postal advantages to all equally, irrespective of other cou*i/}eratious. 2nd. Because if the gc,pgrai hical situation and commercial advantages of any one port point it out as the natural or most conitwww ,» .*)» iQifttfct.pl lit#

majority of the Colonies, such an arrangement should not bo frustrated by any local jealousy of the distinction, or other minor collateral benefits, which may be supposed to be incidental to a terminal 3rd. the terminus of this Service has hitherto boon at Sydney, and the superiority of that port as t’.-e terminus, considered in view of Australian as distinguished from local interests, has not been attempted to be disproved, and cannot be denied. 4th, Because the period which must necessarily be agreed upon for the comse or post under any contract will allow ample time for the mail ships to proceed to Sydney has hitherto, without a resliipping of mails, and without injury to the interests of any Colony (in respect to the carriage of mails, passengers, or cargo) which properly ought to be served by a Postal Service. , sth. Because an extensive passenger and goods traffic between New South ales and Europe is carried on by the ships ot the Galle Service ; and it would be unjust to require the passengers and goods for this Colony to be unnecessarily reslnpped at Melbourne. „ , , Cth, Because no single ground of a federal character, advanced in the interests ot all the Colonics, has been stated m support of the mail ships stopping at Melbourne. . , 7th. Because the support offered by the Imperial Government is manifestly not intended to give any pre-eminent advantages to the South-western apart from the other Australian Colonics, and still less to subsidise the commercial ambition of any one of them, apart from the proper objects of a Postal Service. . Bth. Because the South-western Colonies, in relation to the Galle service, possess important incidental advantages, by being the first Colonies which the steamers reach and the lust from which they depart—thus enjoying much longer time than New South Wales for the purposes of correspondence. 9th. Because the geographical disadvantage to which New South Wales is exposed in this respect, would be needlessly aggravated by the ocean steamers stopping short at Melbourne, whilst such a course would neither conduce to economy, nor afford any additional postal advantage to the Southern Colonies. 10th. Because the making of that port the terminus, without any necessity whatever, and not with the view of improving, but by directly impairing the efficiency of the service, would be fostering the riwlry of Melbourne by Imperial expenditure, and embittering the relations between the

(UIVI O - . two Colonies and the Mother Country, llth. Because the ground assigned by a majority of the Conference for a change of terminus —that the Mails for New South Wales ami Queensland should be earned overland bctwccnMclbourne andSyd ary ,230 miles out of a total distance of oGU miles, by horse teams- is scarcely less preposterous under existing circumstances, than if it were proposed that they should be carried by a service of balloons ; and it cannot be regarded by us as other than an evidence of indifference to the just claims of New South Wales. For the foregoing reasons, the Representatives of New South Wales, while expressing their anxiety for agreement and united action on other questions, cannot take part in any further consideration of the proposed Mail Service between Melbourne and Galle. Hunky Pakkes,

Saul Samuel. Sydney, February 4th, 1873. Mkmohandlm. The Representatives of New South Wales arc prepared Ist. To abide by the result of tenders being called for two Services—one to Sydney and one to Melbourne, with the necessary brandies—and to accept whichever is cheapest in the interest of all the Colonies ; or, 2nd. To leave the question of terminus to the decision of the Secretary of State. But little comment is needed upon tire separate objections. Tire first and second alleged reasons arc mere truisms, having no special bearing on the claims of New South Wales. "The third might have been good had not ♦mtlicient reason been given for a change. The fourth, if Mr Lamotoa’s proposition be true, must be looked upon as a mere evasion. The fifth may be equally asserted on the part of Queensland, and with equal justice. The sixth is untrue, as the Federation clearly decides in view of the quickest and cheapest route. The seventh might fairly be retorted upon New South Wales, The eighth should be an approval of the decision of the Conference, as, through the merchants of Sydney receiving their letters a day earlier than by sea, the utmost possible time for reply will be afforded, The ninth and tenth contain their own condemnation; while the eleventh is simply a perversion ,of the resolution arrived at that can deceive nobody. The whole is a curious specimen of that sort of logic Math which statesmen attempt to satisfy their country and themselves, and would be amusing were no great interests imperilled. Mr Lanoton, on the following day, stated the reasons of the Victorian representatives for Melbourne being the terminus of the Gallc line. Some of them betray the lurking jealousy between the two Colonies; but ou the whole it will he eoueeded that they are calculated to carry the greater weight

Reasons submitted by the Representatives of Victoria in favor of Melbourne being the terminus of the Suez mail service - 1. Because for the Suez service it is the most central port of Australia, and from it the branch services to New Zealand and Tasmania must diverge. 2. Because the time occupied with the mails from Europe will be shortened to all the Colonies (except Western Australia, which will not bo affected by the change), by the saving of some hours in taking in coals at King George’s Sound for the voyage from Melbourne to Sydney. 3. Because a further saving of (on an average) twelve hours will be effected, by avoiding the delay now caused by the detention in Hobson’s Bay, for the discharge of cargo for Melbourne, and the transhipment of mails for other Colonies.

4. Because after August next, when the North-eastern Railway of Victoria will bo completed to the boundary of New South Wales, on the journey from Melbourne to Sydney a further saving can be effected, if the mails are carried overland, of at least ten hours. (See Report of Engiucer-in-Chief of Victoria attached.) 5. Because for every ten miles of railway completed by New South Wales from Coulburn towards Albury, a further saving of one hour will be effected.

G. Because if the land service from Albury to Goulburn he objected to by Now South Wales, and the mails to that Colony and Queensland are sent by a branch steamer, the saving of time at King George’s Sound and Hobson’s Bay will still be effected, and those mails delivered from fifteen to twenty-four hour s earlier than under the present arrangement ; or the mail may be divided, on the saute principle as is adopted via Brindisi and Southampton, the letters being sent overland, while the heavy portion of the mail cotrld be sent by sea.

7. Because Sydney is the natural terminus of the Pacific and Torres Straits routes; and, in the distribution of the advantages incidental to Mail Services, Melbourne is entitled to the tcrniinu; of the service for which it is most conveniently situated, and towards which it contributes so large au amount. Without this concession Victoria would contribute largely to all the services, and participate in the incidental advantages of none.

8. Because New South Wales will, in regard to the Torres Straits aud Pacific Services, enjoy similar advantages to those which will be conferred on South Australia and Victoria by the Galle Service.

!>. Because by the terminus being at Melbourne, the service would cost less to all the Colonies than by requiring the Galle steamer to go on to Sydney. 10. Because the voyage from Galle to Melbouruo is 4,G-v7 miles- an extreme distance for any vessel to ho kept under steam, and to perform her voyage with regularity at the speed required. To this long distance, the extension to Sydney involves an addition of (IU2 miles.

11. Because the finest dock in Australia has been built at Melbourne, mainly with the view of tilting tlje port to be the tenuiaue of tfcib

12, Because by the steamer calling at Glenelg at least forty hours’ notice will always he given to prepare for despatch of the branch steamers from Melbourne.

Id. Because steamers sail abnod daily from Melbourne to Sydney, thus ensuring without delay or undue expense the immediate transmission of the mails.

14. Because Victoria pays about one-half of the entire subsidy to the Suez line. 15. Because the contemplated subsidy of the Imperial Government to the second lino is contingent on its being an alternating line, as shown in Treasury letter, I4th August, 1872; and by the terminus of the Suez line being at Melbourne, the time for delivery of European mails at Sydney would be -Via Man Francisco, 47 days ; via Suez (by branch service), 47 days. lb. Because any postal compact, such as it is desired to enter into at this Conference, must be based upon mutual concession ; but if this terminus be not conceded to Victoria, that Colony would be, while the largest contributor, the only Colony to which no concession whatever was made.

17. Because, on the ground of population, commerce, and correspondence, Victoria has the greatest interest in the service. 18. Because Victoria is willing to contribute to other lines affording little or no advantages to her. 19. Because the Parliament of Victoria does not meet till May, and then will not confirm any agreement unless the terminus of this line be at Melbourne. It will then he too late to enter into fresh negotiations for any contract to commence the service in January next.