39

F.—6

Sydney or Melbourne, in which case poundage rates will be paid for the carriage of mails from the New Zealand port to Australia until a contract transfers the terminus of the service to an Australian port. The first voyage outwards from Auckland will commence on the Ist September, and inwards from Vancouver on the 6th October next. 'Ihe dates of departure from Auckland will be amended as soon as practicable, to enable a fortnightly alternation to bo made with the San Francisco service. The voyage between Vancouver and Auckland and vice versa is to be made in nineteen days. I should be obliged if you would kindly announce to the London Post Office the intention to establish the service. I have, &c, J. Carroll, Acting Prime Minister. The Hon. Sir W. Hall-Jones, K.C.M.G., High Commissioner for New Zealand, London. [Vane. Misc. 11/39.] '

No. 134. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the Managing Director, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. (Telegram.) Wellington, 9th March, 1911. Time-table Vancouver mail-service: I discussed matter with Sir Joseph Ward in Auckland, who is agreeable, in view of coaling difficulties at Vancouver, to allow service to be commenced on present days —that is, an interval of a week between departure of A T ancouver steamer from Auckland and San Francisco steamer — provided approximate fortnightly departure from Pacific Coast. This time-table to be subject to revision after present San Francisco service has been running for a year. Postmaster-General's wish is to have fortnightly departure from each end, and no avoidable delay should be allowed to occur in arranging this. [Vane. Misc. 11/29.]

No. 135. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 10th March, 1911. I enclose for your information copy of the text of a letter recently sent to the PostmasterGeneral on the subject of the rate of freight on flax from Auckland to Vancouver. Would you kindly favour me with your remarks thereon. Yours obediently, D. Robertson, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. The Postmaster-General's correspondent writes as follows: — " I was not suggesting that flat should be carried at special rates, but that it would not be out of place in the interests of trade of the Dominion if the Government laid down in the new mail contract or any future contracts the condition that freights to the Pacific Coast of America should not be in excess of freights to England or to the Atlantic Coast of America. " To the latter places there is open competition, which keeps freights down, whereas to the Pacific Coast past experience and recent quotations have shown how difficult it is to work up a trade where thsre is no effort made to offer reasonable freights. " It would also not be out of place for the Government to lay down the condition that the main ports of the Dominion —viz., Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and the Bluff— should be placed on an equal footing in any of these contracts so far as through freights are concerned. These ports can obtain through freights to and from the United Kingdom at equal rates, and this custom is very serviceable to the whole trade of the Dominion, and gives all ports an equal show. If the Government can bring the custom into vogue so far as the Pacific American trade is concerned it will be appreciated by traders in most parts of the Dominion." [Vane. Misc. 11/30.] _^^^^____^^____

No. 136. The Secretary, General Post Office, Wellington, to' the General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir,— General Post Office, Wellington, 16th March, 1911. I have your letter of the 10th instant about the time-table of the Vancouver mail-service [not printed]. If the Postmaster-General approves the extension of the agreement under clause 31, and it is decided to despatch the San Francisco steamer from Wellington, it will only be necessary for the present to provide for an interval of a week between the departure and closing of the Vancouver mail at Auckland and the San Francisco mail at Wellington. Tf the Vancouver steamer leaves Auckland on the Friday, the San Francisco mail in the preceding week should close at Auckland on the Friday. This would make the sailing from Wellington r> p.m. on the Saturday. I have, &c, D. Robertson, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin. IVanc. Mi»-. 11/66.1