THE UNION STEAM SHIP COMPANY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 56, 29 November 1907, Page 4

THE UNION STEAM SHIP COMPANY.

The speeches at yesterday's banquet to Sir James Mills were naturally of an almost exclusively complimentary character. They were even more free than is usual upon such occasions from those announcements of forthcoming events or those unexpected statements of public policy which often make these gatherings of high interest to the public. Yet the banquet had a real interest of its own, as a formal celebration of.the fact that the head of a local shipping company in this small Dominion has received a knighthood. Sir James Mills has the congratulations of everybody, .and, although it would be unfair to him to take for New Zealand part of his credit, we may all feel pleased that the honour conferred upon him has its association with, this country. That the knighthood has been well earned- is beyond question, and the occasion _ is fit' for recognising the great ability with which Sir James Mills has managed a company of great magnitude and real national value. The Union Steam Ship Company has resisted,when it might' without fear of dangeous competition have' given way to, the temptation to lag behind the times in the matter of quality of service. .Indeed, in point of speed and accommodation, the latest additions to the fleet are better than what the most exacting critic could rightly demand. Naturally, the Company has not conducted its business simply for the honour and glory of the country, or with an eye to the interests of nobody but the travelling public. Nor does Sir James Mills desire to be applauded as a philanthropist pure and simple. There are shareholders to be considered, and their. interests have, certainly not been allowed to suffer. But it is satisfactory that care for the shareholders has not excluded concern for the general public. . An aspect of the Company's career that was not touched upon at the banquet, but' that must occur to anyone reading the speeches, and reflecting upon the many excellences born of Sir James Mills's business direction, is the example which the Company furnishes of what private enterprise can do. This is a day in which the advocates of unlimited State enterprise do not scruple to urge that transportation and other public utilities are always unsatisfactory and faulty in private hands, and the high efficiency of the Union Company, therefore, may, with advantage, be emphasised. If it has done well for itself, it has given valuable assistance to the development of the country. The Government is deserving pf credit for recognising this latter consideration in connection with Sir James Mills's knighthood.