NEW SOUTH WALES.

Colonist, Issue 97, 24 September 1858, Page 3

NEW SOUTH WALES.

In the Legislative. Assembly, on the 31st August last, Mr. Donaldson movnd the following resolution regarding the Eiiropuan and CMonial Mail' Service:—

" That this House having considered the present position of the Postal Service between Great Britain and the Australian Colonies, especially with reference to the recent failure of the European and Australian Mail Company, and to the necessity now arising for fresh arrangements,— while re-affirming the resolution arrived at on the 6th instant, ' That in any future contract for the Mail Service, it is not for the interest of New South Wales that the Imperial Government should make any arrangement binding upon this Colony without previous reference thereto,'—Resolves further, That in any future contract for Postal Communication with Great Britain, the following considerations ought to have due weight: —1. It is not reasonable to charge the Australian Colonies with any subsidy for the conveyance of mails on those trunk lines already established as portions of the grand Imperial postal system, namely, that to the east by the Mediterranean and Red Seas to Point de Galle, and that to the west by the West Indies to the Isthmus of Panama, so long as the established rate of postage is paid, because all the great States of Europe which possess colonies, —especially France, Russia, Holland, Spain, and Portugal, as well as Brazil and the South American Republics — are gratuitously afforded the immense social and political advantages which the Great Tiunk Lines develope, while the Australias, Britain's best customers, and her own colonies, have - never yet been efficiently brought within the scope of these Imperial arrangements. 2. If for Imperial reasons, whether to avoid a monopoly by any one powerful company, or to carry out political views, it be deemed necessary to establish'double lines of steamers, to Ceylon on the one side, or to the Gulf of Mexico on the other, the Home Government ought to bear the expense of such double lines, where a postal service is already established. 3; From the geographical position of the two principal colonies of the Australian Group, New South Wales and Victoria, the latter colony is better able to undertake the postal service between Melbourne and Galle, while the former might establish the line from Sydney via New Zealand and Panama. 4. In the opinion of this House, the completion of a scheme by which a fortnightly mail could be insured, alternately, to Melbourne and Sydney, by Ceylon and Panama—more especially when the Electric Telegraph, now in course of construction to the East Indies and America, shall be completed—would tend, in an incalculable degree, to stimulate immigration, to develop the great resources of these important colonies, and to benefit Great Britain. 5. That with these considerations in view, this colony would willingly undertake her fair share of any arrangement which shall embrace the whole of the Australian Group in one comprehensive postal system. 6. That should one comprehensive system not be practicable, New South Wales would, with a due contribution from the Home Government, consent to carry the mails of the other colonies to and from Panama—being then free to make arrangements with them as to their fair share of contribution— -provided that the colony of Victoria will undertake the line by Galle, upon similar terms. 7. That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded with an address to his Excellency the Governor-General, with a request that he will bring the same, without delay, under the notice of the Secretary of State for the Colonies."

The hon. member said his object for placing this motion upon the paper, was to elicit the opinion of the House on the present condition of the postal communication with Great Britain, and the desirability of making arrangements for keeping up its. efficiency. But not having had the privilege of knowing the course of action taken by the Executive Government, in relation with the subject, and as it would not be an easy matter to propose resolutions which would meet with the general concurrence of the House, it might appear, that the proper course would be to allow the discussion to take place upon the Governor-General's message, if it should be taken into consideration on a certain day. Mr. Cowper said that when the GovernorGeneral's message was brought, under the consideration of the committee of supply, it was intended to bring on the discussion. If the House desired to go into committee of supply tomorrow (Wednesday), the question might take precedence of the ordinary Estimates; at all events the discussion should not be deferred longer than Friday next, and indeed if that day was fixed upon, the Government would be prepared to take it up at that time. The question would be likely to be decided to greater satisfaction upon his Excellency's message; although he was glad hon. members ou both sides were pretty unanimous upon the point. The present resolutions were very much like those proposed by the Executive Council, and as the hon. gentleman opposite seemed to have no objection to postpone the discussion till the resolutions of the Government were brought before the House, which he would; under the circumstances, propose for Friday. . ■

Mr. Donaldson, on that understanding, withdrew his motion. ■

In reference to the above, the Sydney Herald expresses an opinion that the first of these resolutions requires modification, that the Home Government cannot be said to charge the colonies with any portion of the already established main trunk lines, since it has borne half of the Australian subsidy. "It matters little to us," says that journal, " whether we pay half of the whole subsidy, as hitherto, or the whoie of the half, as Mr. Donaldson proposes. In either case the total cost is shared. The equitable way ofv considering it would be,-that in every extension of a trunk line the mother country should bear a fair proportion of that extension; But the colonies have been so impatient for steam communication that they have offered to bear the whole cost of the extension, and they hiive been taken at their word.*'.