STATE STEAMERS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15750, 17 November 1916, Page 4

STATE STEAMERS.

A FIJI PROPOSAL. Tho Government of Ki.ji. proposes to tun a fleet of steamers as an ordinary trading concern. The extent of the scheme has not been made known, but the original idea was to run ships to N-ew Zealand and Australia. So' far a.s can be learned, all that is proposed at present is to run steamers in and around the Fiji Croup. ■ In tho Legislative Council, on November (itli, the Colonial Secretary, the Hon. Eyre Hutson, moved that tho Council approve of the appointment of a .Select Committee to consider the question of the establishment-, after the conclusion of tlie war, of Marine Department, to conduct inter-insular and coastal steamer services. The mover informed the Council that he had seen .service in the Crown Colony of British Guiana, where a siihilar cciieme uas in actual and successful operation. Prices had been reduced to the public, traffic had increased, and a service of enormous value to the community had been established. .It cost £200.000 for six steamers, the money being raised by loan. The proposal -was very vigorously opposed by the Hons. H. M. Scott, K.C., Henry Mark:?, and J. M. Hedstrom, elected members, all of whom iigurc largely in the commercial life of Fiji. They referred to the hopelessness of State control of such a concern, the reasonable objection to the creation of more Departments in a few islands, v.hic-h have far too many at present, and the likelihood of .bankruptcy should the scheme be carried out. Two elected members, the Hons. H. L. Kennedy and C- "NV. Thomas, who represent outlying districts possessing only elementary communications, gave the scheme their wholehearted support. His Excellency the Governor, Sir Ernest Birkbam Sweet-Escott. stated that the scheme emanated from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and, therefore, -was worthy of consideration. Perhaps the Imperial Government intended to subsidise the Government of Fiji in the venture and help of such a nature should not lightly l>e declined. The motion was carried and a committee was constituted.