AUCKLAND SPECIAL

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 236, 14 October 1901, Page 3

AUCKLAND SPECIAL

FRISCO MAIL SERVICE

(Special to Times.)

Auckland, last night.

The Auckland people are greatly concerned over the 'Frisco mail service, and fear that Wellington is in future to be the port of call. The New Zealand Herald in a strong leading article on Saturday concludes :—“ That powerful interests will champion the Government proposals is a foregone conclusion. What will our Auckland members do ? Will they sit down after a weak verbal protest and be overborne, as they have so often been overborne, or will they do their duty to the city, the province and the colony and resist this unwarrantable proposal by every constitutional means '! They are in a position, if they have courage and pertinacity, to prevent this injury to the colony, this wrong to Auckland. If they set duty above party allegiance, true patriotism above accustomed subservience to Southern domination, they will save the ’Frisco service. And as it is their duty to show an indomitable front in Parliament, and to resist unyieldingly this un-called-for and unnecessary attack upon a route so long identified with New Zealand and so certain to become of increasing benefit to the entire community, it is equally the duty of the citizens of Auckland to declare themselves emphatically in the matter. To estrange the direct American connection at a time when Australia is closing her doors in our face and when we need all the markets we can reach is in itself an act of folly. But for Auckland, which feels the Federal tariff most, to submit tamely to this self-im-posed and added loss, will be more than folly."