The Mail Services.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 117, 19 October 1901, Page 3

The Mail Services.

In the House on /Thursday Sir Joseph Ward moved that the House go into Committee of the Whole to consider‘-the - mail resolutions,;- He deprecated very strongly the" cfy of noith and south. Anything more unfair ot more calculated to prejudice tha interests of the rian Francisco mail service could not be imagined than the conduct of the Auckland press and of certain gentlemen who had the cause of the Barr Francisco service He denied that there was any understanding between the Government and others on this question, and he announced that if the resolutions in reference to the San Francisco service were carried, he would propose a further resolution fixim a minimum poundage of £15.000. The demand of Mr Spreckles for £26,003 from New Zealand was altogether too . high, m view cf the fact that, with the Australian colonies in, the amount was only £BO.OOO. but the guarantee of £15,000 at a 7s 6d rate was a fair one, aiid he attached no importance to the prediction that the service would go to Queensland. He that Mr ftprcckcls was too good a business man to lose sight ef the advantages of the trade with this colony. The change of feeling in regard to the Vancouver service was due to the exclusion ; of the British-owned eteamers from the San Francisco trade. Alternative proposals had been submitted for the reason that the mail services should not be left un a loose footing. Supposing that Mr Spreckels declined the ’ Government proposals, which was very improbable, they- could give effect to proposals whi6h would secure an equally g iod, a not a better service. 4 . ... After a lengthy discussion the House adjourned at 1.86 a,m.