AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVIII, Issue 81918, 2 March 1907, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN MAIL CONTRACT

( IS THERE A HITCH! ( London, February 28. . The Snipping Gazette, an adhere u oi the Mail Syndicate, declares that i no other method of raising debentur capital is forthcoming the Common wealth will probably g.ve a guarantee Surprise is expressed at Mr Chapman" definite allegations tiiat the opponent of the proposal are endeavoring to ge at members of the Syndicate. The Beardmores' withdrawal lends color t< the allegation, but nothing else i> known, and further retirements ar. Unlikely. The paper describes a cable gram to the effect that Mr Clarke i>lh Syndicate's agent) is seeking orders fo; torpedoers as a harmless fiction. His Vißit is intended to put the Syndicate's case before the Government. Melbourne, March 1.

Both Mr Clarkemd Mi E-p.in pu'« licly deny that their mission is to secure better terms or amend the eon tract. . Nothwithstanding these denials, tin press states that the denials of Ministers are mere bluff, and that- there is undoubted information that the Syndicate has intimated to the Gou'i-n----ment that they have reached .he limit qf their resources and have appealed to the Government for assistance. The Postmaster-General denies that Mr Clarke approached the Government to guarantee debentures. Mr Deakin, the Federal Premier, aBertß that neither Mr Clarke nor Mr Esplin have spoken to hini on the matter. There was nothing that could be described as a hitch.

STATEMENT Br MR DEAKIN. Received 2,1.13 a m. bYDNET, March 1 Mr Deakin reiterates his denial that he had been approached in any way to guarantee debentures. Alluding to the proposal of the Victoria Cabinet to consider the question of guaranteeing a proportion oi the debentures, Mr Deakin says he had been looking forward to the actiye assistance of the States in developing hetter communication with the Old World. He understands other States may similarly assist, and hopes, with their assistance, that the contractors may overcome the obstacles which have been so persistently thrown in their way.