SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8367, 25 February 1907, Page 7

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

By Telegraph—Pi*ess Association. B

WELLINGTON, February 23. Speaking of the irregularity of the,} San Francisco mail service. Dr Find, lay (Acting - Postmaster - General) stated that numerous complaints had reached both the Department and himself. "We resognise that Spreckles and Co, have had to encounter serious difficulties owing to the earthquake," . said Dr. Findlay, "but every indulgence has been shown them, and prompt action must now be taken to end the present unsatisfactory state ■of things. It is just as important to have regularity and punctuality of running as to have expedition of transit. A great many contracts are made on the basis of the mail timetable, and the uncertainty and irregularity of the San Francisco mail service for months past has caused such a loss of business that commercial men are now giving it up and .relying on the Suez route only. The "last San Francisco contract expired on November 10th, 1906, and no fresh contract has been entered into, so that no penalties are now being incurred by the Company. Matters have gone from bad to worse, and now the Ventura is to be for repairs and overhaul, and one mail at least is to be dropped altogether. The Company has received repeated notices and warnings, and, while it may not have been able to overcome its obstacles, it certainly has not improved the regularity of its running. The Company admits that it cannot, with its present fleet and running, maintain the time-table dates. The Ventura's withdrawal from the service will be a lengthy one, and the position can only be met by the Company substituing a chartered vessel. I understand that the Riverina is available. The Company have been notified that unless a substitute vessel is provided no English mails will be sent by the San Francisco steamers until the service has been put on a proper footing and it can be shown that the steamers themselves are capable of keeping the time-table dates. If the Comnany does not promptly move in the direction required, the Government will have to consider the advisability of abandoning the service altogether. It will be remembered that we have now, via Suez, a fortnightly service running with complete regularity. The service is costing us less than the San Fran- ■ cisco service costs us. Whilst the San Francisco line is a three-weekly service, the only drawbacks to the Suez service is that it takes a week longer than the contract tims of the San Francicso line. However, ad I have said, I believe ithat punctuality and regularity are as important as expeditious transit."