49

to do that, because I was aware that the accommodation is not good enough to allow them> to do so, but we are now providing at an enormous expense what we hope will be a safe and commodious harbour at Freniantle, and when the new contract is entered into in about two years' tune or more, we have a natural desire to have these steamers call at our chief port. The desire of the people of Western Australia is that these steamers should call at Fremantle and take on board mails and passengers. The only objection any one can have to that is that it may delay the mail, but I can hardly think that that would be the result, it is very little out of the direct course, and in any case there are detours far greater than the one I suggest on the part of the mail steamers between the old country and this one. I would like to point out clearly that it is not intended to affect in any way the present contract, but only any future one, and only then when safe and commodious harbour accommodation is provided It will cost my Colony a million of money to provide that accommodation, and I think when we have spent that amount we should have every consideration it is possible to give us. In regard to portion No. 2 of my motion, although it will be of the greatest importance to Western Australia, it will not in any way affect any of the other Colonies. Mail steamers arriving now near midnight will seldom ieave before morning—until daylight I am informed —-but the uncertainty so caused occasions great annoyance and inconvenience it is difficult for anyone who wishes to leave by one of the mail steamers todo so. We all know the time these steamers stop at such ports as Aden and Colombo, and I see no reason why they should not stay a short time at King George's Sound for the convenience of the people of Western Australia. The proposal is that under the new contract the sailing day shall beSaturday, Saturday would suit us better than any other day, but, next to Saturday, Wednesday is the best day for us. Saturday would suit every Colony in Australia. Queensland is under a great disadvantage at the present time, though I am sure we will do our best to remove it if she would be satisfied to dispatch her mails to leave Adelaide on Saturday Now they have toremain over Sunday somewhere about Sydney, any day between the Wednesday and Saturday will be disastrous to us, and I will oppose it as strongly as it is possible for me to do. It will either result in the steamers leaving Albany on Sunday, or in our being obliged to dispatch our mails from Perth, on Sunday , of course that is an arrangement no one would desire to impose on any Colony if it could be avoided. lam quite sure Members of this Conference would not for a moment desire to place Western Australia at. a disadvantage to which they themselves would not for a moment submit. I have much pleasure in moving : — "That in the opinion of this Conference it is desirable that in the next contract for the conveyance of mails from the United Kingdon to Australia, provision be made—■ (1 ) That, until safe and commodious harbour accommodation be provided at Fremantle, it be optional with the Companies to call at Fremantle ; but that so soon as such accommodation is provided, it be compulsory for the Companies to call at Fremantle to deliver and take on board mails and passengers. (2.) That, any mail steamer arriving at Albany or at Fremantle after 11 p.m. shall not leave such port till 8 a.m., and that mail steamers arriving between 8 'a.m. and 11 p.m. shall remain in port for six hours at least. (3.) That the sailing time for mail steamers from Adelaide be Saturday at noon." Mr COOK I beg to second the motion. I sympathise with Western Australia in their desire to improve their mail arrangements, but I will suggest to the mover, would it not be well if he made paragraph No. 2 of his motion correspond with the conditions set forth by the permanent heads of departments ? If he looks there he will see it is provided that the outward steamers shall stay at the port of call for not less than six hours. Sir JOHN FORREST If required by the Post Office. The difficulty is when they arrivein the middle of the night. We want them to stop until they give people an opportunity of getting on board. Mr COOK That means practically nine hours. In respect to the other points, I am in complete accord with Sir John Forrest, both as to the day of sailing from Adelaide, and as to the desire on his part to get increased accommodation at Fremantle, but I would strongly urge on him to make some little concession in regard to the detention of nine hours in the night. If he can make it six or seven hours, there will be no difficulty Dγ COCKBURN With regard to the second portion of the motion, I quite agree with Mr Cook that it is to a great extent provided for, and to the extent that it is provided for it should not be re-duplicated by the Conference. Fixing the time for one port of call will mean fixing it for every port, and that will hamper the position very much. It will be as well for Sir John Forrest not to press this matter, and I think it would be as well for us not to go further than we have already gone. With regard to the first portion of the resolution, it will be fulfilled very shortly, and steamers may find it necessary to call at Fremantle. With regard to the third portion, that has been decided at a recent Conference. I sympathise with the mover in his desire to avoid Sunday work at any port of call, but, on the other hand, the time must be fixed for mails to leave Adelaide so that they might arrive in time for replies to be sent by the mails leaving England on Friday, especially in regard to the provincial markets. I believe Friday is likely to remain the day for the mails leaving England, as it is preferred by the London merchants. I think it was this consideration that induced the permanent heads of departments at Brisbane to recommend Thursday as the day for mails to leave Adelaide, as fulfilling these important conditions, but afterwards the day