The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1888. OCEAN MAIL SERVICES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1922, 18 August 1888, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 1888. OCEAN MAIL SERVICES.

No question brought up m the House this session is so full of import to this district as the abolition of the Ban Francisco Mail subsidy and the granting of increased facilities to the direct line of steamers to land our surplus wool and our frozen mutton m London. Beside this question the Native Land Bills, the Californian Thistle Bill and the hundred and one other measures sink into comparative insignificance. The 'Frisco service is but an expensive luxury while tbe direct service is the one which has done, and is still doing, the trade of .New Zealand. How Parliament can be so dead to real progress and prosperity by, even for a moment, upholding the renewal of the 'Frisco service, is a matter for grave reflection. What has the benefit been to the colony as' a whole by the 'Frisco service ? Judged by results, simply nil. As a passenger service and as an alternative route to the globe trotter, or the colonial anxious to see America en route for Home the service may be of use, but does this style ot Service suit tho producers of this district for instance m having their frozen mutton exported at a cheap rate. We look with no small degree of pride to the proportions of our trade m frozen meat, and what, we ask, has fostered that trade, extended it, made it a substantial one? There is but one [answer and that is the direct service. Does the 'Frisco Service bring cargo to our ports or take any away. The question has been asked m the House and tbe answer vis convincing. During the year 1887, the 'Frisco Service boats brought 1335 tons of cargo to Ne iv Zealand, and took away from the colony 569 tons. The New Zealand Shipping Company by their direct steamers brought 16,687 tons, and tbe Shaw Savill and Albion Company's steamers brought 23,101 tons, or a total importation of 39,788 tons, as against 1335 tons from America by tho 'Frisco boats. In cargo outwards we have tbe direct steamers carrying a total export of 48,254 tons against the 'Frisco steamers paltry 569. When it is considered bow quickly the direct steamers make their run Home, and bow well they deliver their cargo, tbe idea of subsidising a mail route via America seems absurd. Not only is it absurd, but it is extravagantly so. Who benefits by tho 'Frisco contract save the monopolist, Mr Spreckles m America, who is now determined, against the wishes of the Seaman's Union and other Unions, to employ Chinese labor only on his vessels. We can understand members m Auckland supporting tbe 'Frisco service. No other port m New Zealand is benefitted by it. But this much to Auckland we would not grudge, were Auckland willing to pay m proportion to the benefit received. It is rather much that those outside Auckland should have to find the wberewithall to pamper one particular town which considers itself the hub of New Zealand already. The action of the Ministry is inexplicable. Their interest should be tho interests of the colony, but what do we find. They iave about necessity for cutting down oalaries already retrenched too heavily, and at the same time are content to listen to the clamour of an Auckland-Napier combination. Independently of its speed as a mail service the cargo carrying capacity of" the direct service is what must be looked to. It might well be asked what benefit to the laborers at shipping ports is the 'Frisco service. It is merely a tourists service of no practical use to the colony. It is only perpetrating a folly ard heaping a useless expense on the country to renew it. If valid and substantial reasons were given for maintaining it the question might bo fairly discussed, but so long as it is m evidence that tbe direct steamers can do the work of the colony cheaply, effectively and with sufficient expedition we think it a dangerous and and retrograde movement to revert to an order of things which has proved an expensive luxury and one which has brought neither custom nor capital to tbe colony. In tbe direct interest of farmers, of sheep breeders and generally every class m tbe community we should withstand any attempt to curtail the advantages of tbe direct steamers at tbe expense of tbe taxpayers. Tho House has done its duty by administering another slap m tho face to the Ministry, as since tbe above was written Parliament by a substantial majority has declared against tha renewal of tbe 'Frisco contract. It is to be hoped now that nothing but a direct fortnightly service will bo considered. The idea of a mail route by way of Vancouver's Island and across Canada may be perfectly feasible, but at present the direct boats are sufficient for all purposes.