The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-10 00:00:00

THE MAIL CONTRACT SYSTEM.

The fact of the mail contract system, so far as concerns
the manner in which it has hitherto been carried out,
having been finally extinguished has afforded great satis-
faction. The details of the plan for the new Australian
service, stated at the meeting of the General Screw Com-
pany on Monday, show that for the future the conditions
of such arrangements are to assume an entirely different
character, and that, although the business is not to
be put on the basis of complete freedom, as near an
approach has been made to it as could have been ex-
pected, looking to the long previous errors by which the
sudden adoption of perfect principles have been rendered
almost impracticable. Instead of giving an enormous
bounty in the shape of a fixed annual amount, ex-
tending, as in some cases, for more than a third of a
generation, and from the payment of which there can be
no escape, a method is now adopted by which, while the
contracting company are put out of all fear of losing
their bargain so long as they fulfil it properly, the Go-
vernment will have the ability to terminate it, in case of
need, at any moment. Up to the present time, the re-
sults of the contract system have been-1, to prevent
economy and enterprise on the part of the favoured
undertakings, by rendering their subsidy indepen-
dent of any progress beyond the speed or accommo-
dation originally stipulated ; 2, to crush all compe-
tition, by enabling
.them to oppose new lines by
running on terms which,. without the subsidy, would
leave a loss ; 3, to stimulate other nations to place
their vessels on the same footing, thus giving rise to
that worst form of political contest in which the victory
depends on the strength of national treasures ; 4, to
excite dissatisfaction in the several dependencies of the
empire by an expenditure of public money on different
colonies, not in proportion to the population and trade
of each, but according to the fancies of the Minister for
the time being, the natural streams of trade and emi-
gration being thus interfered with by undue. facilities in
particular directions ; and, finally to give the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer and the First Lord of the
Admiralty the virtual control of nearly 1,000,000 ster-
ling per annum to be bestowed on such persons con-
nected with steam operations as might be able to bring
greatest influence to bear. By the new plan, howevet, .
all this will be ended. The proposed remuneration to
consist of half the postage receipts, and the contract is
to be determinable from year to year, with an arrange-
ment that if it be withdrawn within five years a
certain fine, ranging from 30,0001. for the first
year down to 10,0001. for the fifth, shall be paid by
the Government, this security being considered neces-
slay to render it worth while for any company to *$
dertake the first outlay of establishing an extensive
line. The great advantage, therefore, of the reform
is, that it will prevent costly steam fleets being denied
to some colonies, and given to others whose commerce
is insufficient to pay for them, inasmuch as it will not
admit of any lines being formed except in proportion to
the temptation of the postal receipts, while the power of
withdrawal at any early date by a rational fine is also a
vital recommendation. With this proviso, whatever
alterations may come from the extension of science or of
the general views of the people as to the propriety of the
Government interfering in such matters, instead of
leaving the mercantile community to send their corre-
spondence by such vessels as under the stimulus of
open profits will carry them fastest and cheapest,
the door will always be open for an immediate
remedy. Under these circumstances, looking at the
gigantic dimensions to which the old monopolies had
attained, the mischief the country must yet sustain
from them for several years, and the powerful city
and Parliamentary influence by which they were
upheld, there is not only reason for strong congra-
tulation on what has been effected, but also at the fresh
instance which has at the same time been afforded of
the determination of the Government, even in affairs
which are too dry to attract much popular discussion,
to act for the interests of the community, instead of
being blindly led by the routine sophistries of those
whose only claim to be considered authorities consists
in the extent of their interest in preventing all improve.
went.--Times.