VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 299, 21 January 1911, Page 5

VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE

NEW' ZEALAND PAYS £20,000 ANNUALLY. THE PREMIER INTERVIEWED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Vancouver mail service was the subject of an important statement by the Prime -Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) to a New Zealand Times' representative to-night. Sir Joseph reminded the interviewer that it is sixteen years since a contract was signed between the' then Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada and himself, subject to the ratification by their respective Parliaments, which would have brought the Vancouver service, with a New Zealand call, into existence. ''Unfortunately," continued Sir Joseph, "that agreement was not ratified by the New Zealand Parliament, and since* 1895 there have been continuous but unsuccessful efforts made to have the service established between these two great and growing dominions, the trade developments between which must, in the ordinary course, as years pass, greatly increase. I have endeavored for many years to secure a call at New Zealand for the Vancouver mail steamers, and it gave me considerable pleasure to be able to send by wireless to the Ulimaroa, bound from Sydney to Wellington, a message of congratulation to Sir James Mills upon success having been achieved." Sir Joseph spoke hopefully of the prospects of securing some friendly arrangement with the Commonwealth Government over the service. "I can quite understand the difficulties the Federal Government has experienced, as their seauoard from Sydney to Brisbane on the one sidcj and to Melbourne on the other, is very extensive, with three principal ports ail expecting to have a call from the steamers. Up till now the chief Huficulty in getting a reasonably fast service nas been the number of calls. At the same time, it seems to me to be distinctly a case where the co-operation of the two countries to secure the best and most effective service for themselves as well as for Canada, is eminently desirable. New Zealand, with its active and alert people, could not be expected to stand aside and quietly 'allow itself to be left outside a steam service to Canada, and it appears to me that there could be no loss to Australia in joinin? hands in a triple agreement, seeing that it was patent to all that New Zealand was bound to make provision for the requirements of its people in that direction. As the service is from Vancouver f o Auckland, and on to Sydney, with Canada, New Zealand and Fiji alone contributing, it will be quite apparent to our Australian frit-lids that there is nothing but the most friendly and cordial desire on the port of New Zealand to ■nrk in accord with the Commonwealth, and I sincerelv hope that after the Federal Prime Minister's conference in London with the . ..me Minister of the Dominion of Canada, a solution satisfactory to Australia In the matter of trade and tariff affairs will be brought about." "And what is New Zealand to pay foi the realisation of its ideal V" queried tin interviewer. "We will enjoy the advantages of (lie Vancouver service." replied the Prime -Minister, "for a subsidy of £*l,()ll!) a year."