VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10430, 22 September 1911, Page 5

VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICE

THE AGREEMENT RENEWED.

By Tplegraph — Press Association

WEUNGKTON, Last Nigh*.

In till© House of Representatives to-night, ithe Prime. Minister asked the House to ratify the agreement entered into for thie renewal of the mail service between Canada and New Zealand. Hie- had hoped thlat Australia would have joined, in the 'contract, but for (reason® of their own: they 'had decided otherwise. The term of the contract was for five years from August Ist, 1911. Three steamers were to be engaged in the service. Tlhey' were the Makura, Marama, and Zalandia, and he was informed that the Unjon. Company were preparing to put on. another steamer. Special conditions were embodied in the contract to allow for perishable produce beikig freighted to Vancouver. There was 10,000 cubic feet cf space in two of the sfoiips, and 5000 in the other, for frozen produce. Two thousand corbie feet of space had beem reserved for New Zealand. After July Ist next .fresh arrangementswould be entered into regarding the reservation of space for New Zealand. The speed of the wa,s very satisfactory, New ZeaJhnd maiJis. being landed in London, in 31 days; A faster service could not be provided for £20,000. A maximumi amount had been fixed for freight charges and pasisen,g«r fares, and this could not be exceeded. The new service wouM altermate with the 'Frisco service. The reason that, the- short period of five years had been fixed, for the contract was that the Panama Canal would be opened shortly before the expiration of the contract, and there was bound to be a. difference then in the sea vices from here to. England. It was ■ very important to have connection between this country amd Canada. The amount to be paid for the service was a very moderate one.

Mr Massey said there was very little difference v of opinion in the matter. The general opinion was, at the present time, that the New Zealand mail service wias out of d'ate. He. was pleased the steamers were .twin' screw®, and were equipped with wireless.

Mesi.-iT'si Poole, Myei's and Luke supported the motion. Mr Hemes suggested that the aittirricTouis. service's should be dispensed with, and one fast service niiaantH'ined.

Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, s<aid £20,000 wtas the whole amount for the service. No postages were to bo padd. The .motion wias agreed to, and the Bouse rose at 11.20 p.m.