The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-11-02
y
lSPRECKELS' POSTAL CONTRACT
SEEMS TO BE IN DANGER
The New Zealand Government on the Brink of
naugurating Line of Mail Steamers
to Vancouver.

found impra cticable to arrange a con-
tract for the three-weekly San Fran
cisco service on the foregoing terms
this House authorizes the Government
20 enter into negotiations for establish
ing a three-weekly or a four weekly
Vancouver mail service, subject to the
following conditions: (a) That the con-
tract shall be for term of not less than
three, or more than five years; (b) that
the payment shall not exceed 820.000 a
year: (c) that the service shall be per-
formed by vessels OF not less than 5000
tons having frst-class passenger ac-
commodations, and fitted with all mod
ern improvements, and also refrigerat-
ing chambers and chilled chambers, for
fruit and dairy produce; tG) that the
time shall not exceed IS days between
Vancouver and a New Zealand port, the
selection of which to be at the con-
tractors option; (e) that the terms and
conditions of the contract proposed in
respect of the San Francisco service
shall be applied to the Vancouver ser
vice so far as they can be adopted
8. THAT the Government shall also
negotiate for a fortnightly intercolonial
service to provide prompt connection
with the Federal mail service at Mel
bourne and Sydney, (a) between Wei
lington and Sydney, or (b) between Mel
bourne and the Bluff, and in addition,
in the event of the San Francisco SER
vice not being arranged, (c) Sbetween
sydney and Auckland"
Members are reticent upon the ques-
lion Of the mail services, but they agree
in expressing approval of the Govern
ment's action in bringing down The
resolutions in ample time to allow them
to be fully considered. a long and
warm debate is expected when the
question comes up for decision. The
division will be exceedingly close.
VIEWS MIR. SPRECKELS' AGENT.
Mr Dunnet, Mr.. Spreckels' agent,
says the government is perfectly aware
that it is an impossibility under the
present American shipping laws for
any but American ships to trade be-
tween Honolulu and San Francisco, so
he cannot see the force Of the offer of
an annual subsidy of 100000 in lieu of
poundage. provided that one British
owned steamer registered in New Zeal
and be employed in the service. Mr..
Dunnet says it seems to be forgotten
that the colony pays nothing at all for
the inward service, which is subsidized
by the American government, and all
the company is asking is fair amount
for the return trip as 1t is impossible
to run an unsubsidized service across
the Pacific When I questioned him
as to what might happen If Mr..
Spreckels cannot see his way to accept
the rates offered by the New Zealand
government, Mr.. Dunnet pointed out
that the essence of the companys con-
tract with the American government
was to secure communication between
the republic and the commonwealth
He believed that Mr.. Spreckels could
get the contract amended so as to
make the terminus at Queensland.
where the service would be welcomed
and this would result in New Zealand
being cut out. Such route would
give Australia 2twenty-eight day ser
vice. He also pointed out that even
at the present time there was nothing