MAIL SERVICES,

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1916, 27 October 1906, Page 4

MAIL SERVICES,

PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last nishS. In tlic House yesterday Sir J. G. Ward gave notice to move the following resolution : “ Frisco Mail Service : (1) That whereas the renewed contract entered into on March 15th, 1903, between the Postmaster General and the J. I). Sprockols and Bros. Company, of San Francisco for tho continued performance of a three-weekly mail service between Auckland aud San Francisco, for the period id throe years from Move mber 10th, 19J3, will expire in November next, this House authorises the Government to enter into a further extension of the said contract with the said Company for the renewal of the service for a period up 'to three years from November 10th, 1906, subject to the following additional and amended condi lions’: (a) That the payment shall not be less than £15,000 per annum, or more than 120,000 per annum ; (b) that tho Postmaster-General shall bo authorised to negotiate that all payments by the Commonwealth of Australia for the service shall be paid over to this colony, in which case the maximum payment to the contractors may bo increased to £25,001 per annum ; (ej that a larger and better class of steamers shall bo placed in tho service by tho contractors within two years from the dato of the contract, otherwise tho Postmaster-General may determine the contract on giving the contractors six months’ notice in writing. Vancouver Mail Service : (t) That this House also empowers tho Government to establish a three-weekly mail service between tho port of Vancouver and a port in New Zealand, subject to the following conditions : (a) That the contract shall bo for a term of three years ; (b) that the payment shall not exceed £20,000 per annum ; (c) that the service shall be performed by vessels of not less than 6000 tons, having first-class passenger accommodation, and fitted with all modem improvements, and also refrigerating chambers and chilled chambers for fruit and dairy produce: (d) that the time shall not exceed eighteen days between Vancouver and a New Zealand port, tho selection of which is to bo at tho contractors’ option; (e) that the terms and conditions of contract as far as they can be applied shall bo similar to those governing the San Francisco mail service.”