§ Mr. HARRISasked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, in connection with the fortnightly mail service viâ Suez to New Zealand, there is no regular connection to carry the mails from Australia to New Zealand; and whether he will endeavour to arrange such a through service or, failing that, whether he will consider arranging for a regular mail service to New Zealand viâ Vancouver as before the War?
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Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere is no scheduled close connection between Australia and New Zealand for the mails sentviâ Suez, but the period of waiting at Sydney is as a rule short. I will communicate with the New Zealand Post Office which contracts for the steamer services between Sydney and Auckland and across the Pacific in order to ascertain whether any improvement is practicable on either route.