SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 164, 23 September 1892, Page 2

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL SERVICE.

DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. Some discussion took place in the House late last night on the San Francisco mail service, the postal estimates then being under consideration. The Hon. Mr Ward said that strong representations were being made to the Imperial Post Office through the Agent-General, that they should continue their subsidy to the San Francisco service at the present rate. Even, however, if they did not give a favourable reply, the New Zealand Government would not increase their payment. They had every reason to believe that even then the service would not be abandoned by the contractors. The Government had also asked the Australian Governments to increase their subsidy. The contribution to the San Francisco service had been increased by the colony bom £15,200 to £18,500, the sum mentioned in this year’s estimates, because of the numbers of letters having very largely increased, the payment being by weight. The Suez mail matter had also increased, but the direct service receipts had altogether disappeared, because little or no mail matter was now sent by that service. Captain Russell urged that the San Francisco mail should be delivered at Wellingtou instead of Auckland, since the former was the central port in tho colony. Mr Ward said a fast mail service was desirable ; that by the way of San Francisco was a very good and very fast service, and the Government did not intend to increase the subsidy to get a faster one. As to whether Wellington or Auckland should be the port of call, it was not the intention of the Government to amend tho existing arrangement, under which the contractors had the option of choosing the port of call. The only people in New Zealand who bad sent any complaint to the Government about the San Francisco service, were the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Apparently, therefore, the rest of the colony were satisfied with a service which was, taken all together, a good one. To get a better one the House would have to expend more money, nud he would not ask them to do that. Mr Ward contradicted tho statement of Mr Dutliie that the mail services had been practically wrecked. It was a very good service for the price paid. After some discussion regarding the Suez service, the vote of £32,698 for conveyance of mails by sea, including £18,500 for the Sau Francisco servico, was passed.