THE OCEAN MAIL SERVICES. Wellington, August 16.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 291, 18 August 1888, Page 5

THE OCEAN MAIL SERVICES. Wellington, August 16.

Tiik battle of the louteo was to ha\e bcg"un at 7.30 last nighl, but owing to the lateness of this hour befoto the discussion on the Native Bills was completed, it was decided to defer the debate till to-day, the Piemier utjclei taking to take up the matter immediately the Houbc meets. Theie ha& been most ac i\ c whipping on both side.-, ami a haul light l's anticipated, but the opponents ot the San Francisco bervice claim to hn\e an a&siued majoiity agai.ibl its continuance.

MR WARD'S AMENDMENT. The following is the full text of the lesolution to be submitted by Mr Ward as an amendment to the Premier's resolution : 1. That in the opinion of this House the San Francisco Mail Service should be dis continued. 2. That the Government bo authoused to call for tendeis tor a tortnightly mail sei\ice by direct steamers between New Zealand, and Gieat Britain upon the basis of payment by weight, the aggregate amount of such payments not to exceed C 50,000 in any one year, the time occupied in transit of the mails to be not more than Lrty days from New Zealand to Plymouth and foity-lhiee da>s from Plymouth to New Zealand. The ttnderots to state at what rate pei pound they will convey the letters, books and packets and ncwspapeis. The term of contract not to exceed live year.-. 3. That no bonus be paid lot 1 the mails being delivered in lets i hau ccmtiact time. 4. The steamers to be efficient steam \esseJs of the liist-class and lully equal to class 100 Al at Lloyds legibter and of not less than 2,500 tons gross, having -spar decks and laigc capacity lor passengers and cargo, and ample ventilation lor passing thiough tropical kvitudes, the vessels to be iicted up with refiigerating chambers and also chilled chambers lor iruit and dairy produce. 5. That in the e\ ent ol a suitable tender not being received for the Direct Mail Service, the Cioveinment be authoiised to aruuiuc lor a weekly mail service via Blind isi, dl&o on the bass ot payment by weight, and at an aggie^atc cost nob exceeding that named for the DireoL Mail Sei vice, viz., ,C 30,000 in any one year.

EMPLOYMENT OF CHINESE LABOUR. I ha\o the authority ol Mr Ward for stating that ho intends to make u point airainst the San liYanui^co sorwee in tne lact that Mr Spiectdes li .■> determined to c nfcinue the employment of: Chine.-o crews in his ve&&elf.. in this connection the ■'Evening Post" has the following: — " Public opinion may nob alwayb support the action of the fcSeanicn's. Union. It will scarcely do so it the Union pushes the present dispute with the Shipowner' Association to the extreme ol a general strike which would involve enormous loss and inconvenience ; but in lega d to the employment of Chinese crews on vessels subsidised by colonial funds, there will, we imagine, be but one opinion. Mi SprecHes's action will place some oi the most ardoufc supporters of the San .Francisco service in a quandary. They will find it impossible to reconcile subsidising a line of steamers which employs Chinese labour with the views they have expressed on the Chinese question generally, or with the opinions and interests of their constituents. In New South Wales, the feeling against Mr Sprcckles and his steamers is likely to be very strong and to find forcible expression. In the face of that action we can scarcely see how the Parliament of New Zealand can consistently continue to subsidise the present service beyond its present contract obligations in the matter,"*'