AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8754, 2 March 1907, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT.

Press Association.—Copyright. Sydney, March 1

Mr Doakiu reiterates his denial that ho has been approached in any way to guarantee debentures. Alluding to the proposal i.f tho Victorian Cabinet to consider the question of guaranteeing a proportion of the debentures, Air Deakin says ho has been looking forward to tho active assistance of tho States in developing better communication with tho Old AA T orld. Ho understands that the other States may similarly assist, and hopes, with their assistance, tho contractors may overcome the obstacles which have been so persistently thrown in their way. Melbourne, March 2. Mr Clarke asserts that tho statement that his mission was connected with torpedo boats was a harmless fiction, and was quite disproved when the facts were announced that .Mr Esplin, another passenger on the same boat, was agent for a torpedo firm. Mr Bent’s proposal is. that each of the States should guarantee £150,000 of the mail syndicate’s debentures. Other members of his Cabinet do not take the same complacent.view. Mr Kidston, Premier of Queensland, declares that ho will not entertain tho suggestion for one moment.

The Premier of Tasmania says he has heard nothing of the proposal, but speaking on tho spur of the moment, viewed it unfavourably. [These statements bear out the opinion expressed in the loading article that the denials by Mr Deakin and others that any guarantee yvas desired were mere bluff.]