THE MAIL SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 237, 18 October 1901, Page 2

THE MAIL SERVICE.

POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S PROPOSALS. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. In the House, at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sir Joseph Ward moved that the House go into committee of 1 the whole to consider the mail resolutions. He deprecated very strongly 1 the cry of North v. South, at anything more unfair or more calculated to prejudice the interests, of the Sin Fran--1 cisco service could not be imagined than the conduct of the Auckland press and certain gentlemen who had the cause of tbat service at heart. He denounced as untrue certain statements made in at article in the Auckland Eerald on this question. He denied tbat there was any understanding between tbe Government and others on the question, and he announced that if the resolutions in reference to the San Francisco service were carried he would propose a |furthor resolution fixing a mini mum poundage of .£15,000. The demand of Mr Spreckels for £26,000 from New Zealand was altogether too high in view of the fact that with Australian colonies the amount was only £30,888; but the guarantee of £15,000 at a 7s 6d rate was a fair one, and be attached do importance the prediction that the service would go to Queensland. He believed that Mr Spreckels was too good a business, man to lose sight of trade with this colony. Mr Bollard ; Make it £12,000. Sir Joseph Ward: We have never had a single indication that they would accept £20,000, all our proposals having been met with a refusal. Mr Masssy: You have proposed £20,000 for th 9 Vancouver service. S r Joseph Ward said he would come to this by and by, but he might here inform tbe hon. member that the change of feeling in regard to tbe Vancouver ssrvica was due to tho exclusion of BritUh-owned sneamais from Sin Francisco trade. The al ernative proposals had been submitted for the rea son that the mail services should not be on a loos.t foo Supp sing that Mr Spreckels declined the Government proposals, which was very improbable, did hon. members mean to tell him that they could npt give effect to' proposals which would secure" an equally good, if not a better, service ? Even if the Vancouver service were established, Auckland must be the port of call, because it was necessary to have the fastest and shortest route, which woull be by the port of Auckland; and in the event of Mr Spreckels declining the proposals, Auckland would be the tar- { minal port for the Vancouver service. | It was monstrous to suggest tbat the ] House must be driven to accept the I terms of Mr Spreckels, and to fall down and worship the San Francisco service, which last year cost £10,803 after credit had been given for all postages. Under the present proposals the net cost, after giving credit for all postages, would be £16,304, and this would show that tbe Government was not practising a skimping payment for these services. New South Wales, at the aame time, was getting the benefit of this service as a terminal port for £2OOO, because it had not come into the contract, and it received the banefit of postal union rates; yet when the New Zealand Government asked that it should be supported in fixing a good commercial contract, it was charged with ulterior motives. Speaking of the Vancouver service, the Postmaster-General agreed that there ought to be such a service, and. tbat there ought to be opportunity of developing trade with Canada. The mails would take only one day longer to reach London, or to reach Auckland on the return voyage. The Federal service tbat was carried on by the P. and O. and Orient boa's would cost the colony £19,417, while the Vancouver service (three-weekly) would cost £21,333, and the San Francisco service £16,304. The San Francisco service was the fastest and cheapest, "and it was clear to his mind that they should agree to carry it on. It was not a question for Auckland alone, but for the whole colony. It was their duty to ask Mr Spreckels to use whatever political pressure he had to. secure tbe employment of British-owned steamers in this trade, No one could take exception to any laws the American Government might 'pass to govern its own operations, but the exclusion of British-owned steamers had, without doubt,' acted detrimentally against this service. They could not get a better passenger line between England and New Zealand,

Mr Hornsby: Why not the direct service?

j Sir Joseph Ward replied that it was impossible to get a direct service [ which the passenger world would use as [against tbe San Francisco line. In [ concluding, he urged that this service would maintain our connection with the Great Nation, and also that splendid feeling which existed between England and America. EasteA troubles might arise, and, with Federated Australia close to us, we could not tell what troubles might arise with Japanese and other races ; therefore, when the colony had an opportunity of establishing a moderate cost service of this kind it ought not to cut offit3 nose to spite its face.

Mr Millar held that tbe Government had not adequately carried out the iustructions of the HouPe last year to negotiata for a Vancouver service. The return furnished this session i showed how little value the service was to the colony. Every chamber of commerce in Neto Zealand except that at Auckland had passed resolutions in opposition to the 'Frisco Fervice,

! Mr Fisher favoured the abolition of I the 'Frisco service, because it was absolutely of no benefit to the colony. He saw no necessity for keeping up a fast and costly service when we had the present cable facilities, in fact it would be better to devote the £15,000 to a subsidy to secure a reduction rf cab'le rates than to piy this money to a foreign company. He resented the exclusion of British brats from the 'Frisco service.

Mr Massey adversely criticised the proposed Federal service, and sud instead of itcosting us £19,000 it wou'd cost between £25,000 and £30,000. The 'Frisco service was a long way th« most efficient and fastest we could have, and he had never heard anyone express dissatisfaction at what it cost the colony, The Government proposals in regard to poundage rates were not business-like, and he urged that the subsidy of £2O 000 should be offered without any stipulation as to employment of a British owned steamer.

Mr Witbefora said when he appealed to the British Government soine time ago to subsidise an all-red Pacific mail line he was told that next to subsidising the British flag it was wiolwd I that the colony would subsidise the I American flag, " because some day we will work together." He pointed out

the many advantages attaching to libe 'Frisco service.

Mr G. W. Russell blamed the Government for not having made full J inquiries concerning the Vancouver and Federal services in case the House refused to subsidise the 'Frisco line, and considered it meant the Government had made up its mind to continue the 'Frisco service plus Spreckels. He advocated the establishment of a direct mail service by way of the Oape, wteraby we might develop with the African market. He admitted the I speed of the 'Frisco line, but as a representative of the farming community he objected to any subsidy being paid to a company b°longing to a nation that hid raised a protective barrier against us. Mr Buddo was strongly opposed to aily further payment to the 'Frisco service. He saw no possibility of adapting the Vancouver aervica to our needs as faster steamers were required, and the question of the contract with the Queensland Government must also be considered. If we assisted any company we should assist the company which trav6l ! ed round pur shores.

Mr Napier said the Auckland people supported the 'Frisco service because it was the be3t and fastes\ He would be prepared to vote for a much larger subsidy if a British ship, or even two British ships, could Le engaged in the 'Frisco service.

Captain Russell said we wanted a regular system of mail delivery, and' there was no doubt that in the absence of a Nicaragua or Panama route the 'Frisco route was quickest. A direct service via Oape Horn to England was practically out of the question. Moreover, the service by way of Sin Francisco would give us communication with a greater number of people with whom we could do businrs* He did not agree that we were subsidising' a foreign flag by maintaining this service. The fact was that the American people were subsidising a line of steamers to carry our mails. By abolishing the 'Frisco service we should deprive ourselves of an important mail service without gaining another, since, whatever occurred we would still have the Federal service by |»ay of Australia, whether we subsidised it or not. j We had been sepintod by a fiscal folly from Australia, and he asked whether we were prepared to shut off our communication with America. There would be practically no trade between New Zealand and Canada, as Canada produced what we ourselves exported. Mr Hutcheson, in opposing the 'Frisco service, said it enabled people on the Pacific coast of America to send to New Zealand manufactured goods, and also to send other goods at less cost than they could be produced in America, so as to regulate local markets.

Mr Napier interjected that this class of goods did not come by the mail steamers.

MrHutchasonsaid that if the United States would exibit a true spirit of reproeity towards this colony, he would not object to a much larger subsidy being paid to the 'Frisco service. Whxti was wanted was regular and frequent mails, and a reduction in cable ratts. The former could ba obtained by arranging with the Union Oompiny for cannectioa with the Federal service. Mr McGowan, in the course of a brief speech, said he considered the 'Frisco service was the best the colony had ever had, as it was the cheapest, I shortest and fastest. The only argu-l ment to his [mind against that eervice was the fact that British boats were barred ; but he would not be surprised to find that some of thore who made that objection were standing in American shoes. Mr. Collins said the indiscreet writings, utterancs and telegrams tint had emanated from Auckland mere responsible for some of the opposition that was being manifested towards the 'Frisco service. There was a strong feeling of resentment aga<Dst the way in which tin Auckland people were trying to dictate to members of the House.