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VANCOUVER SERVICE. AUCKLAND-SUVA-HONOLULU- VANCOUVER. No. 47. Mr. Edward Newman, M.P., Marton, to the Hon. the Prime Minister., Wellington. Sir, — Marton, 9th May, 1913. I have the honour to draw your attention to the disability under which the Pint of Wellington and districts served thereby labour in consequence of the Vancouver mail-boats confining their port of call in the Dominion to Auckland. Primarily Wellington should be the best port of call if there is to be only one port, as it is just as well suited to the export of butter and cheese as Auckland, and very much better situated for the export of all classes of frozen meat, and it is in the interests of the latter trade that I am more particularly addressing you now. xlt present frozen meat is being sent from the Wellington district to Vancouver in several ways. The live-stock is being sent to Auckland and there shipped, and frozen meat is being shipped by the San Francisco steamer and forwarded to Vancouver from San Francisco. Both these methods are very unsatisfactory and expensive and indicate the necessity of Wellington being made a port of call. In this connection it is interesting to read the opinion expressed by a well-known business man of Wellington. Mr. J. M. Muir, head of one of the exporting departments in Messrs. Nathan and Co.'s business, who has just returned from a visit to Vancouver. In an interview Air. Muir is reported as stating that there was a good opening in British Columbia for New Zealand beef, mutton, and lamb; that at present Australian meat was largely used, but the feeling in the trade was that a better demand was arising for first-quality meat, which New Zealand alone could supply. As a further indication of the importance of the meat-export trade to Vancouver, I desire u> mention that early this week over thirty trucks, containing some 240 fat bullocks, were despatched from Manawatu to Auckland to be exported to Vancouver. The Vancouver mail-service is subsidized by the Government, and Wellington being so eminently suited for the export of produce should, in justice, be included as a port of call. or, in the event of its being impossible to have more than one port, I venture to submit, in the interests of this growing trade, that Wellington should be that port. Commending that matter to your favourable consideration, I have, &c, The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington. Edward Newman. [Vane. Misc. 13/24.] ___^^_^___^____

No. 48. The Hon. the Prime Minister, Wellington, to Mr. Edward Newman, M.P., Marton. Sir, — Prime Minister's Office, Wellington, 15th May, 191:;. I am in receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, in which you urge -that Wellington be made a port of call for the vessels engaged in the Vancouver mail-service, with a view to promoting the export of frozen meat from the southern portion of the North Island. In reply, I have to state that I have taken a careful note of your representations in regard to this matter, and shall be glad to confer with the Postmaster-General and let you know later whether it is possible to make any alteration in the direction indicated. I have, &c., Edward Newman, Esq., M.P., Marton. W. F. Massey.

No. 49. The Secretary, General Post (Mice, Wellington, to the General Manager. Union Steam Ship Company, Dunedin. Sir, — General Post Office, Wellington, 24th May, 1913. I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a letter from Mr. Edward Newman. M.P., to the Hon. the Prime Minister, requesting, in the interests of a number of Wellington settlers, that Wellington be made a port of call for vessels engaged in the Vancouver mailservice. 1 should be glad if you would inform me whether it would be possible to include Wellington as a port of call, and, if so, under what conditions. I have, &c, W. R. Morris, Secretary. The General Manager, Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand (Limited). Dunetiin [Vane. Misc. 13/26.]