THE AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND MAILS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1724, 24 July 1883, Page 3

THE A USTRA LI A N AND NEW ZEALAND MAILS.

Ik the despatches aieto be trusted the "Washington Government is disposed to make certain concessions that ought to have been extended long ago, in older to secure the maintenance of the steam line plying between this port and Australia and JSFew Zealand. The contract between the Pacific Mail Company and the two colonies that subsidize the line expires in November next, and considerable doubt has existed as to whether the service would be continued. New South W«ales has grown a little tiled of the contract and has not been willing to renew it, bpcause she could do better by throwing in her lot with her neighbours in sustaining the service via Suez. New Zealand has, however, had from the first a strong penchant for the San Francisco route, and is very willing to pay handsomely to continue the line, if she can be relieved from certain exactions on the part of this country which she thinks burdensome, and from w Inch he thinks she has a right to be freed. The line, maintained entirely at the expense of the colonies, has hitherto conveyed a very large coirespondencc for the United States to the Hawaiian Islands and Australia and New Zealand, and has in payment therefor only the postage. In return for the service New Zealand thinks that her mails might well be carried across this continent free of charge. If that be done the service m ill be continued : otherwise it will be abandoned. Why should not the concessions be made ? It is reasonadle and just, being only a giving of one advantage in return for another. The Australian line lias built up a considerable commerce that has greatly btnefiteu this port. The passenger traffic is so considerable that its loss will be felt by our hotels, our storekeepers aud especially by our railroads. We talk a great deal of cultivating commerce and encouraging steam lines, but here i^> an American line, for the first time in history, subsidized by British gold, and bringing a growing business to our doors, and yet by onerous charges we are seeking to drive it away. Truly this is commercial folly. The Australian business never has been cultivated as it might have been, for if it had been this service would by this time have been established on a footing that would

have rendered it independent of contracts »nd subsidies. — Han Francisco JScivs Letter.