SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4969, 24 February 1877, Page 3

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

The following extract from the memoranmm submitted by Mr. K. J. Creighton to the San Francisco Postal Commission will be read with interest. After sketching the efforts of the New Zealand Government —efforts to secure a mail service via America extending from the establishment of the old Panama line to the inauguration of the Pacific Company’s line —Mr. Creighton proceeds ; “It is felt by the contracting colonies that the Congress of the United States should contribute towards the support of this line, as well for the sake of extending American commerce as in consideration for carrying the United States mail, for which practically no payment is made, the whole burden being thrown upon the small communities of New South Wales and New Zealand. The necessity for taking this subject into consideration is urgent, as should the present mail service, from any cause whatever break down, it is highly improbable that New.. Zealand, which has already made such ( large pecuniary sacrifices in that ‘direction, would seek to re-estab-lish it, but would make arrangements, which it could do at much less cost, for receiving and transmitting its mail matter • via Suez, the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company being willing to establish a fortnightly service on condition of having the monopoly of the Australian' trade. It is respectfully suggested, therefore, to the Commission that they favorably consider the .propriety of recommending the payment of a sufficient subsidy to the contractors to ensure the permanence of the service, and so extend and consolidate American commerce in the South Pacific.

“The attention of the Commission is likewise directed to the following paragraph in the report of the New Zealand Postmaster-General, alluded to above, with the view of recommending a return to the old scale of charges for mail matter by the United States Postal Department. , Should the present charge be insisted upon it must ultimately lead to a discontinuance of the Australian mail route across the American continent. The PostmasterGeneral of New Zealand says:- “ ‘ln December last the United States Post-master-General intimated to the London Post Office authorities that from the Ist January, 1876, the rate for the carriage of British closed mails between San Francisco and New York would be increased to 33 cents, per

pound on both letters and papers, instead of cents, per ounce on letters, and 6 cents, per pound on newspapers—charges which it was stated were found to be wholly insufficient to represent the payments made by the United States Post Office to the Eailway Companies. The closed mails in question were principally •“those sent and received by New South Wales a£& New Zealand ; and, in order to meet thfe extra charge, the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty’s Treasury proposed to raise the rates of postage on newspapers and other printed matter sent in mails to the colonies via San Francisco. The proposal was in effect to raise the postage'on newspapers, &c., to 4d. per 4 ounces, and to be at liberty to demand a postage on newspapers sent in the colonial mails sufficient to coyer the transit charges of the

United States Post Office. This proposal was strongly protested against by the AgentsGeneral of the two colonies as being contrary to the spirit and • intention of the arrangement made in May, 1873, and which was regarded as binding for a period of five years. Eventually the Imperial Government withdrew their claim, but intimated that the basis of payment would have to be reconsidered on the expiration of the existing arrangement.’ “ This agreement, therefore, by which the colonial mail benefits at the expense of the Imperial Government, terminates in May, 1879, when a similar concession need not be expected, as the policy of the London Post Office authorities has been to discourage the San Francisco route in favor of the P. and O. service, via Galle and Suez, a service which the Imperial Government subsidizes for its India and China mails. It is respectfully suggested to the Commission that, under the circumstances, the United States Government should manifest a liberal spirit in this matter, which is one of vital' importance, when the merits of the two competing mail routes are under consideration. It is quite clear that the contracting colonies will not pay double postage rates and heavy subsidies for the sake of sending their mails to the United Kingdom across the continent of America.

“ The experience of the existing contract shows that the Australian trade may be largely developed, and become an important adjunct to American commerce. Latterly the vessels carrying the mail have sailed from' San Francisco full of freight and with a full complement of cabin passengers, each of whom pays 200dols. to New Zealand or Sydney. During the winter months the travel from the colonies for Europe is not large ; but it is safe to estimate it at one hundred per month both ways. Those passengers come from all parts of the Australian Continent and New Zealand. The most enterprising and intelligent colonists are thus brought into contact with the citizens of the United States, and have an opportunity of studying the institutions and manufactures of the country. A demand for American products is thus being steadily created, and unless checked by a discontinuance of the mail service it will, in the course of a few years, expand into large proportions. Already the shipment of wheat to Sydney by the mail steamers has created a market for the surplus produce of the State of California, and three sailing vessels are now loading with breadstuffs in this port for the Australian market. To illustrate the commercial value of the Australian and New Zealand markets, the following statistics, compiled from official returns,are submitted:— Australasia (including New Zealand), 1874 Area, square miles .. .. .. -. 3,166,042 Population (exclusive of aborigines) . . 2,223,100 Total public revenue $60,400,345 Imports .. .. .. .. .. $224,636,565 Exports $214,507,300 Tons shipping 5,824,076 Miles railway open 1,781 Miles telegraph open 22,038 Wheat, bushels 21,265,967 Oats, bushels v 8,905,652

Barley, bushels .. 1,586,945 Maize, bushels 4,489,619 Vines, acres 16,449 Acres under cultivation 5,186,880 Horses: 868,415 Cattle ; , .. -.. ..' .. .. 5,995,103 Sheep : 61,649,967 Pigs .. .. .. .. .. •* 667,301

“ Since these statistics were compiled, New Zealand alone has added several hundred miles to the constructed railways, and during 1875 its population was increased by immigration by 25,695 souls. Its population at the close of 1875 was 375,009 'souls, exclusive of about 40,000 aboriginal natives, who are large consumers of imported goods. The population of New South Wales in 1864 was 584,278, exclusive of aborigines, who are non-consumers. At present, therefore, it would be safe to estimate the united population of the two contracting colonies, New Zealand and New South Wales, at one million souls. Their commercial relations, chiefly with England, are considerable. Thus; — Year 1874, Imports. Exports. New Zealand .. 40,609,060d015. . 26,256,345d015. New South Wales 56,465,695d015. 61,728,015d015.

“The export value of gold from New Zealand during the year 1874 was 7,526,0C5d015.; from New South Wales 1,772,747. The export value of wool for the same period was— New Zealand, 14,158,435d015. ; New South Wales, 25,050,625d015. But the foreign trade of Victoria, with which the United States is brought into intimate relations, is much larger than that of New South Wales. The magnitude of the foreign trade of Australasia as a whole will best be understood by the figures representing the united imports and exports, viz., 439,193,865d015. for the year 1874. The country is progressive, large sums being spent in the construction of railways, telegraphs, and other public works by the Governments of the respective colonies. As an illustration of their enterprise, I may state that early this year a cable was laic), 1200 miles in length, connecting New Zealand with Sydney, and thence with the telegraph system of the world. Telegrams are now frequently transmitted from San Francisco to New Zealand.

“ A consideration of the foregoing figures, which may be verified by reference ,to the official statistics of the several colonies, should impress upon the Commission, it is submitted, the importance to the trade and commerce of the United States of the mail service between England and her Australasian colonies via San Francisco. Nine-tenths of the foreign, i.e., over-sea trade of Australasia, is with the United Kingdom and its dependencies. As ‘trade follows the flag,’ it is reasonable to suppose that a portion of it will be diverted to this country if the bulk of the mail matter between England and the Australian colonies is carried under the American flag and across the American continent.... Inquiries at the San Francisco Post Office satisfy me that the United States mail to Australia and New Zealand, not to mention the majl to the Sandwich Islands, which is : considerable, exceeds the China and Japan mails, for which Congress votes a large" subsidy. The interest of the United States in the Australian and New Zealand mail service being direct and growing, it is not unreasonable on the part of the colonies interested to expect that Congress should share the burden, at least to the extent of guaranteeing its permanence. “ Rout. J. Ckeighton, “ Resident Agent N.Z. Government.”