POSTAL CONFERENCE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2631, 10 March 1894, Page 3

POSTAL CONFERENCE.

At the Postal Conference, Wellington) on Wednesday, a letter was read from Mr Huddart to the New Zealand Government asking what amount of subsidy New Zealand was prepared to offer in the event of a port of call for the Vancouver line line being established in the colony. The letter was ordered to be printed. Mr Ward moved : M That this conference is favorable to a four-weekly service, alternating with the Sau Francisco service, between Australia and New Zealand, the Vancouver mail steamers Calling at one of the main ports in New Zealand and such ports in Australia as may be determined upon.” He said that New Zealand was prepared to subsidise the Vancouver service to the extent of £IO,OOO a year if the colony was included in the ports of call, but not if the service required the line of steamers to connect with Sydney for the purpose of transhipment. The motion was seconded by Mr Kidd, and carried. . The following was also carried :—“ That the delegates to this conference, recognising the value of the decisions arrived with reference to joint postal and telegraphic services, and a periodical meeting of representatives from the various colonies, should suggest to respective Governments that similar advantages in reference to trade relations between the respective colonies in the direction of reciprocity would ensue if a similar conference could be arranged to deal with questions in connection with intercolonial tariffs.” Mr Ward also moved a long resolution affirming the desirability of the Colonial Governments subsidising a company laying a Pacific cable, and charging a certain specified rate for messages , interest at 4 per cent, for four yf'ars to be guaranteed on a capital of £1,800,000. On Thursday Mr Ward’s motion was agreed to, it was decided that the following clause bo inserted in the terms of the conditions of the Federal Mail Service, namely, to state what class of labor they intend to (imply on their vessels. It was also decided that a recommendation be made to the Imperial authorities that, mail steamers should he manned by white crews. The conference thou adjourned till Saturday week, and to meet at Auckland.