AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8758, 7 March 1907, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT.

Press Association —Copyright. Sydney, March C,

The representatives of the mail syndicate state they have received a cable from London to-day of a most satisfactory nature. They hope to make an announcement in a few days dispelling all doubts as to the bona Ados of the contractors and their ability to fulfil the contract. London, March G. Mr J. W. Potter, director of the firm of Birt, Potter and Hughes, in a letter to the Shipping Gazette in reply to Sir Thomas Sutherland, chairman of the P. and 0. Company, remarks that it is curious the Orient Company should suggest that the mail contract would entail heavy commercial loss since the Orient Company themselves offered to modify their rejected tender so as to supply a similar service on nearly the same terms as those accepted. As regards the alleged impassivity of the Freight Conference Mr Potter says that the P. and 0. and Orient Companies tried to make it otherwise, as they wrote to the chairman protesting against Mr Potter’s association wnth the syndicate. The matter dropped on the Confer nee declining to interfere. Mr Potter unhesitatingly asserts that ever since then there has been a concerted and organised campaign on the part of the American Shipping Combine, the P. and O. and Orient Companies, who have used the whole weight of their influence to cast discredit on the commercial soundness of the scheme. Mr Potter adds that the only fair enticism against the undertaking is that it offers too much cargo accommodation, but with the unprecedented increase of Australian trade no unprejudiced person would object to this. Mr W. Taylor, secretary of the Orient Company, in a letter to the newspapers, denies Mr Potter’s statement regarding the offer to modify the tender, also regarding the impassivity of the Freight Conference. He declares that the protest was not made against Potter associating with the syndicate, but against his failing to inform his partners of the fact. Melbourne, March 7. In a speech prior to his departure, Mr Deakin stated that nothing would be wanting on the part of Government to assist the mail syndicate. Government was prepared to ask Parliament to reconsider the situation.