MAIL SERVICE IRREGULARITIES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8369, 28 February 1907, Page 5

MAIL SERVICE IRREGULARITIES.

By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, February 26. Mr V. A. Sproule, New Zealand manager of the Oceanic Steam Ship Company, was interviewed, yesterday, with regard to the recent announcement by the Acting-Postmast-er-General (the Hon. Dr. Findlay) respecting the irregularities in the San Francisco mail Service.

Mr Sproule said that his company a few months ago responded to the j complaints of irregularity by the j Postmaster-General by overhauling ! the steamers at Sydney at a cost of close on £20,000. At the present time the Ventura was in the hands of the Mort's Dock Engineering Company, of Sydney, and a trial trip on j the completion of the work would j show the Government the speed that could be maintained. If it were satisfactory, mails would be despatched by her as usual. The Sierra was due for a thorough overhaul at San Francisco on her return home. The Sonoma had already shown that she.could maintain fifteen knots, and she was unfortunate in the present trip only through labour troubles, which had already been ventilated in the press. "In a few months' time," said Mr Sproule. "we will once again -regain the reputation we enjoyed for the last twenty years for punctuality." ' . Replying to a question regarding the Acting-Postmaster - General's statement about the Riverina being available, Mr Sproule said that no doubt Dr. Findlay had made enquiries about what steamers were available for charter in these waters, and that, if circumstances permitted, the matter would be followed up. "Just at the present time," he added, "we will only promise a thorough re-con-ditioning of our steamers, but any day now we may have even better news for you." WELLINGTON, Last Night.

Interviewed, to-night, regarding the statements made \by Mr Sproule, New Zealand Manager of the Oceanic Steam Ship Company, the Acting-Postmaster-General (Dr. Findlay) said: "We have given notice to the Spreckles Company, and we are now awaiting their reply. I have no doubt that Mr Sproule is in turn awaiting an answer from his principals in San Francisco, but what•ever the nature of that reply, the Government intends to adhere to the attitude it has taken up in regard to the matter—that unless the company can satisfy us the vessels are able to keep up to time-table dates we will not ship mails by that route."