A BETTER SERVICE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 23 November 1927, Page 3

A BETTER SERVICE

SOUTH ISLAND & AUSTRALIA NEGOTIATIONS TO BE OPENED UP. PARLIAMENTARY REPORT. Wellington, Nov. 22. Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston) brought down in the House to-night the report of the joint shipping committee, which recommended that in view of the unsatisfactory service between the, South Island and Australia, negotiations be opened up by the Government with the Australian Government to see if it is possible to establish a better service. Mr. E. J. Howard (Christchurch South) maintained that the South Island was entitled to a better service with Australia than existed at present.

Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill) said the only way such better service could be obtained was by means of a State subsidy. They should take a broad view of the matter, just as they had once to do in connection with the San Francisco service. The Hon A. D. McLeod said that at the time Sir Joseph Ward was Postmaster-General subsidies for overseas mail services amounted to £55,000. This had now been reduced to £45,000. The Wellington-Frisco subsidy was £25,000, of which a considerable portion was paid by the Industries and Commerce Department. The Auckland-Vancouver subsidy was £20,000, of which his department paid half. He had raised the question of the southern service when in Australia recently, but he felt that Australians were somewhat jealous of our possible exports. Mr. H. J. Tapley (Dunedin N.) and J- M. Dickson (Chalmers) supported the report of the committee, which was adopted.

THE MAUI POMARE.

The same committee brought down a report oil the proposed arrangements for the Maui Pomai-e on similar lines to that presented to the Legislative Council. Mr, E. J. Howard supported tlie minority report which was against the ship being sent on to Dunedin. It was better to send fruit there by rail, rather than run the risk of loss on the steamer.

Mr. H. L. Tapley maintained that the southern people were entitled to a fair share of shipping favours from the State service. Dunedin would take 5000 cases of fruit, which was sufficient to warrant tne steamer visiting that port. Sir Joseph Ward said it was not merely a question of landing fruit in New Zealand, but there was the reciprocal trade. Southern manufacturers sent little or nothing to the islands, because they had no opportunity of doing so. The steamer visiting Dunedin would overcome this difficulty. The report was adopted.