NEW AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8154, 11 July 1906, Page 3

NEW AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT.

LATEST CABLE NEWS.

CXITED PRESS ASSOriATIO<— 11V KIKCTEIC TKLEUKAPH.—COPYBIDHT.

PASSAGE REDUCED BY 2S DAYS. A WHITE AUSTRALIAN SERVICE. NEW ZEALAND INCLUDED. COLI STORAGE ACCOMMODATION INCREASED Received 10,11.4 p.m. Mklbocene, Jnly 10. Mr Deakin announced particulars of the new mail contract in the House. It is a fortnightly service between | Bnndisi and Adelaide, alternating with a similar service to be provided by the Imperial Government The period has been fixed for ten years and replaces the Orient service when it expires m February, 1908.

The time for traasit is six hundred aid thirty-six hours, which is sixty hours shorter than the present service, and twenty six hours shorter than the Peninsular time.

The price of the new service is one hundred and twenty-five thousand annually, but provision is made for the acceleratien of the speed by twentyfour hours and for reimbursement expenses incurred, but not to exceed twenty-five thousand per annum. * Provision is made in the contract for the acquisition of steamers to be employed under it by purChase, or alternatively for their charter if desired. The port of registry will be in the Commonwealth , anl vessels will fly the Federal flag. White labor ouly is to be employed on the vessels.

Fiye tenders were received, the accepted tender being the lowest. The agreement is made with Sir James Laiog and Sons. There will be three timed the amount of cold storage than at present available. The vessels i tonnage is to be a minimum of eleven thousand tons.

Mr Deakin, replying to an interjection, was unable to contradict the statement that the vessels would go to >'ew Zealand. That would not, however, affect their contract, and it would be a fortunate thing if New Zealand joined, for it would then become an Australasian service.