CO885-(6-7) — Page 498

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

mimmim

TILLIC.O. 885

6

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

126

Sir George Turner.] I have got a minute from our Postmaster-General, who is here, and I sent it on to Mr. Chamberlain.

Sir John Forrest.] It was discussed at the meeting two years ago, I think. Sir George Turner.] What we want is to support Western Australia's claims, if possible.

Sir John Forrest.] We want to support what we agreed to.

Sir George Turner.] I do not know what we agreed to; it is only what he told me. Western Australia is quite right.

The Secretary of State.] Who represents the Post Office?

Sir John Bramston.] Mr. Walter Roche.

The Secretary of State.] Will you put the case, please.

Mr. Roche.] The day of departure desired by the Australian Colonies is Saturday. That involves a departure from Hong Kong on Monday and from Bombay on Monday. Monday, from Bombay, is opposed by India. We have also ourselves to consider in England. The mails would arrive in London on Tuesday in the fair season, but Wednesday during the monsoon; by the Orient Line they would be even later, because an excess of time by the Orient Line is allowed, and they also come by a slower service through France: therefore in the greater part of England the opportunity for reply by the next outgoing mail will be imperilled, if not lost. Therefore we say that Saturday from Adelaide is an inconvenient day. Friday from Adelaide would involve a departure from Hong Kong on Saturday and Bombay on Sunday, which is strenuously opposed by India. That seems to be out of the question. We therefore come to Thursday, and that seems to be the most convenient day of all, except unfortunately for Western Australia. Thursday from Adelaide involves a departure from Albany on Sunday, Hong Kong on Saturday, which is convenient for them, of course. Saturday from Bombay would also suit India, and the arrival in London would be on Sunday, also convenient for us. We strongly recommend this day. We regret very much the inconvenience that may be caused to Western Australia.

Sir John Forrest.] What about Wednesday, the present day?

Mr. Roche.] Wednesday might perhaps do, but it is not nearly so good, inasmuch as it involves an arrival in London on Saturday, and Sunday would be lost; you see, it would be a waste of time.

Sir George Turner] What day is proposed, Mr. Chamberlain, by the Government here?

The Secretary of State.] The Government here desire that it should leave on Thursday.

Mr. Roche.] Thursday.

The Secretary of State.] Leave Adelaide on Thursday.

Mr G. H. Reid.] Albany is a very small place. It means Saturday from Perth. The capital is some distance.

Sir Hugh Nelson.] The post takes 17 hours.

Mr. Roche.] I think the inconvenience would be restricted generally to Albany itself. It is a small place, and the inconvenience would not really be so great.

The Secretary of State.] We understand that the mail is made up at Perth? Sir John Forrest.] Yes.

The Secretary of State.] On Saturday?

Sir John Forrest.] At present it leaves on Friday. The mail leaves Albany now on Saturday, every week on Saturday. It leaves Adelaide at one o'clock on Wednesday, arriving in Albany about noon or later, according to the speed of the ship and the weather, and the mails are made up on Friday at

127

Pertn and go down to Albany early on Saturday morning, at eight o'clock and are shipped as soon as the steamer arrives.

Sir Hugh Nelson.] In time for the mail on Saturday.

Sir John Forrest.] Well, it would mean working on Sunday in Albany- people coming and going would completely upset the Sunday, and would be very unacceptable to Albany and the Colony.

The Secretary of State.] Albany is a small place.

Sir John Forrest.] There are a couple of thousand people in Albany.

The Secretary of State.] It is a large requisition to ask that the whole of the great service involving so many important places should be altered now for the sake of a place of 2,000 inhabitants like Albany.

Sir John Forrest.] Why should we alter it; why should it not remain as

it is now?

Sir George Turner.] They say the mail would get here on Saturday. Under the new arrangement the mail would get here on Sunday and it would not be delivered till Monday.

Sir John Forrest.] They have done up till now.

Sir George Turner.] They will not in future so much because they have got an increase of speed.

Sir John Forrest.] That does not give much opportunity between Adelaide and St. George's Sound to make up any time.

The Secretary of State.] I think if it was only a question of the inconvenience to Albany-

Sir John Forrest.] I do not know that it suits other places. Other Premiers know how it suits them.

Sir Hugh Nelson.] It will give the whole of the people in Queensland a day longer to reply to our letters.

Mr. Roche.] It will be a convenience to New South Wales.

Sir John Forrest.] How is it that in all the Conventions we have had in New Zealand, in Hobart, in Sydney, and everywhere else we have all agreed that Saturday is the best day to leave Adelaide.

Mr. G. H. Reid.] You cannot, because the world moves round more rapidly.

Sir George Turner.] We have had some reason for standing out.

Sir John Forrest.] We have all agreed to Saturday.

Sir George Turner.] Would the boats stop any time in Adelaide ?

Sir John Forrest.] It would not be tolerated in any other Colony. You would have the whole place up if you threw the work on Sunday.

The Secretary of State.] I am not exaggerating. If it were the whole mail for Western Australia there would be something to be said, but it appears

the whole inconvenience caused would be to the people who have to make up the mail for 2,000 inhabitants. That is a very small number.

Sir John Forrest.] Until recently they rever ran trains in any of the Colonies on Sunday.

The Secretary of State.] I think I would venture to ask that those present would say whether they would agree to the proposal-Mr. Reid for New South Wales.

Sir George Turner.] I would like to ask first how long will the steamers stop at Adelaide under the new arrangement. They get there now on Monday morning and do not leave till the Wednesday.

Mr. Roche. I am afraid I have not got that information.

Q 4

AUSTRALIAN

MAILS.

504