South African Steam Service.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 252, 6 September 1902, Page 1

South African Steam Service.

Wellington, September 2

In the House this afternoon Mr G, J. Smith drew the .Acting Premier’s attention to the newspaper report that fresh tenders were being called for the steamship service between New Zealand and South Africa. He a.-died if the Government would advertise for tenders in New Zealand, and he said- he noticed the Christchurch Chamber of Commerce had already dealt with the matter.

Sir Joseph Ward replied that the Agent-Geneial had cablet! him iho fact on Saturday, and the cable mes.-age nad reached him on Sunday night or Monday morning, he did not know which. The tenders were to close on the 4th September. He considered the time was altogether too short —(hear, hear) — and in addition that tenders ought to be ca'lfd for in the colony. Of course he did not know what was the cause of the advertisements appearing. The last tenderer, Mr Sleigh, had to the first of last mouth to lake the contract up ; it was extended to the 2Glh, and ihen was not taken up. Apparently there were legal troubles of some kind. Whatever the cause was, he (Hr Joseph) did not know, but he was quite satisfied that if a service was 10 be obtained now, apart from being advertised in the Old Country it should also be advertised here, and that a reasonable time, say a fortnight, should be allowed within which to receive tendeis. He bad cabled telling the Agent-General that the time was too short, that it should be extended for fourteen days, and likewise that it was necessary that tenders should be called for in the colony. He (the speaker) did not know what were the conditions published in the Home papers at all. He proposed, however, to ascertain the actual lines on which the tenders were being called for at Home, and to call for tenders on similar lines here. The time ought not to be closed in England until the people of the colony had an opportunity of tendering on similar lines.

CONDITIONS OF THE TENDERS.

Dunedin, September 2

The terms on which the proposed diiect steam service to Africa are being called are four steamers, each of 4000 tons dead weight capacity, passenger certificate for thirty first class, and refrigerating chamber of 500 tons, to call at Westport, the service to be a monthly one. There is a doubt as to when the first steamer sails, but possibly within a month after the acceptance of tender?.—-'Press.