AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8371, 2 March 1907, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

PRESS OPINIONS. Received March 1, 8.17 a.m. LONDON, February 28. The Shipping Gazette, an adherent of the syndicate that has taken up the Commonwealth mail contract, •declares that if no other method of raising the debenture capital is forthcoming, the Commonwealth will probably guarantee the capital. Surprise is expressed at Mr Chapman's definite allegations that opponents of the contract are endeavouring to get at members of the syndicate. Mr Beardmore's withdrawal lends colour to the allegation, but nothing else is known, and further retirements from the syndicate -are unlikely. The Gazette describes the cablegram that Mr Clark (agent for the syndicate) is seeking orders for torpedoes, as a harmless fiction. The object of Mr Clark's visit is to put the syndicate's case before the •Government of the Commonwealth. NO GUARANTEE ASKED FOR. Received March 1, 10.27 a.m. MELBOURNE, March 1. The Postmaster-General denies -that Mr Clark approached the Government for a guarantee of the syndicate's debentures. Mr Deakin asserts that neither Mr Clark nor Mr Esplin, has spoken to him on the matter. There was nothing, Mr Deakin said, that could be described'as a hitch. DENIALS MERE BLUFF.! Received March 1, 10.34 a.m. MELBOURNE, March 1. Both Messrs Clark and Esplin publicly deny that their mission is to secure better terms or to amend the contract. Notwithstanding these denials, the press states that the denials of Ministers are mere bluff, and that there is undoubted information that the syndicate have intimated to the Government that i they have reached the limit of their resources, and that the syndicate have appealed to the Government for assistance.

"Received This Morning, 1.13 o'clock. SYDNEY, March 1. Mr Deakin reiterates his denial that he was approached in any way to guarantee the debentures. Alluding to the proposal of the Victorian Cabinet to consider the question of guaranteeing a proportion of the debentures, Mr Deakin says he had been looking forward to active -assistance from the States in developing better communication " with the Old World. He understands that the other States may similarly assist. and he hopes, with their assistance, the contractors may overcome the obstacles which have been so persistently thrown in their way.