HISTORY OF UNION COMPANY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 140, 3 September 1927, Page 2

HISTORY OF UNION COMPANY

HALF-A-CENTURY JN SERVICE OF N.Z. PRESENT DAY FLEET OF 69 SHIPS

THIS article, of the series, than half-a-cen-tory of the bringing it right time. From a pansion, it will right from the directors had the nrosneritv of

the fifth ana last completes more tury of the hisUnion Company, up to the present J study of its exbe seen that, beginning, the great faith in New Zealand.

ine prosperity 01 c n and have at all times kept abreast of trade requirements. The past 15 years have witnessed many important changes. First the company bought into the United King-dom-Australian trade, then in 1913 it was reconstructed, and in 1914, Sir James Mills handed over the reins of leadership to Mr. Charles Holdsworth. Two years ago the company celebrated its 50th anniversary.

THE year 1912 saw the Union CoinA pany still further extending its activities. It purchased what was known as the Irish Counties vessels—the Westmeath. 5,096 tons; Roscommon, 7,381 tons; Limerick, 6,827 tons; and Tyrone, 6,664 tons. These steamers were running in the United Kingdom-Australasian trade. The company was unlucky with these vessels, as three of them were lost within four years of purchase. The Tyrone was wrecked off Otago Heads in 1913, and the Roscommon and the

Limerick were lost in 1917 through enemy action. To replace the Tyrone the company built the Leitrim, 9,540 tons, in 1916, and in 1917 the Armagh, 12,269 tons, was ordered to replace the other two vessels. In 1923, while the Armagh was outward-bound from Liverpool, she went ashore and became a total wreck. Undaunted by these mishaps the company has recently had the Limerick 11., 8,684 tons, built. As the Westmeath was not a modern vessel when the company bought her, she was sold in 1925 to Danish buyers. Reconstruction and Fusion In 1913 it was decided to reconstruct the company. The original concern was accordingly wound up, and a new company of the same name incorporated, the reconstruction taking effect from October 1, 1913. The fleet at this time comprised 75 vessels totalling 232,147 tons. The year 1917 sa w the most important event in the history of the company—the fusion of interests between it and the Peninsular and Orient Steam Navigation Company and its associated companies, the P. and O. having previously acquired the shares of the New Zealand Shipping Company and Federal Steamship Navigation Company, and in the same year it also took over the Hain Line, whose vessels are so easily distinguishable by the prefix “Tre.” Waliine’s Speed Records In 1913 the fast turbine steamer Wahine arrived and was placet! in the Wellington-Lyttelton ferry service, for which she was built. She has broken all speed records for this run, and in spite of her great turn of speed she is nevertheless one of the finest seaboats the. Union Company has. When the war broke out she was commandeered by the Imperial authorities and did excellent work as a despatch carrier for the Mediterranean Fleet, as well as being used as a mine-layer. Since the arrival of the Wahine the Union Company has had several new steamers built, including the Aorangi, Tamahine, Orowaiti, Otokia and several cargo vessels. Sir James Retires At the beginning- of 1914 Sir James Mills, to whom more than to anything else, the company’s phenomenal success had been due, relinquished the position of managing director, which he had held for the 38 years which had elapsed since be founded the company. Although giving up active control, he retained his" seat on the board and also the position of chairman, and has continued to give the benefit of his valuable services. Mr. Charles Holdsworth. who had been general manager since 1901, was appointed managing director in lieu of Sir James Mills, and Mr. D. A. Aiken was appointed general manager. The 50th anniversary of the company was celebrated at Wellington in 1925, when Sir James Mills, who is the onlv remaining member of the original company, was present, and presided over a large assembly of present and past members. Sir James Mills came out from Home specially to be present at the jubilee.

WITHIN WIRELESS RANGE— The following vessels are expected to be within range of the undermentioned wireless stations during the week-end:— Auckland.—Somerset, Tofua, Iris, H.M.S. Dunedin, Hinemoa, Ocean Transport, Kartigi, Ulimaroa. Schouwen. Citv of Dunkirk, Cymric Pride, Ruahine, Canadian Prospector. Chatham Islands.—Hororata, Canadian Challenger. Wellington.—Maori. Wahine, Ngaio, Arahura, Rimutaka, Tutanekai, Canadian Prospector, Marama. Tainui. Kaitangata, Wairuna, Manuka, Port Hunter Chatham Islands.—Walcheren, Kawatiri, Waikouaiti, Aorangi.

During the war the company hal many vessels employed in important work, principally in the transport o! troops. The Moeraki and Monowai were used to transport the Expeditionary Force to Samoa, being numbered T 1 and T2. At one time the company had as many as 3 9 vessel* aggregating 118,455 tons register employed, under hire to various Governments. Eight steamers totalling 54,706 tons were sunk, but these have since been replaced. By November. 1921, the Union Company’s fleet totalled 81 vessels of a tonnage of 266,50; tons, the crews numbering about 4*ool men. Present Day Fleet The establishment of such a fleet ax that of the Union Company shows that in the past the directors mus: have had a very clear and definite policy outlined. From the whole history of the company it will be seen that year by year vessels displaying the latest developments in marine architecture, and showing that their designers had looked ahead to future trade requirements, were either purchased or built. The fleet at the present time totals 69 vessels with a registered tonnageo: 256,510 tons, and in addition the company has under charter the Blackball Company’s two steamers and an interest in the Tasmanian Steamship Company’s Loongana. Oonah and Nairana. Without a doubt the growth of th* Union Company has been remarkabk and is something that New Zealani should be proud of. The Only Opposition The only serious opposition the company ever encountered was between 1892 and 1894. The Warrimo* and Miowera, then new vessels, opposed the company from October. 189* till April, 1893. during which time th» travelling public thoroughly enjoyei itself, as fares from Wellington to Sydney were as low as 10s. When thess vessels were withdrawn, HuddartParker and Company continued the opposition with the Tasmania and Anglian. A year later, however, it wat arranged to work on a definite schedule and relations between the two companies have been amicable ever since. Looking Backward A summary of some of the most important events in the history of the company is given below: 1875 —The Taupo and Hawea, the first steamers with compound engines, arrived. 3 877—First West Coast Sounds excursion run by the Wanaka. 1878— Inter-colonial service started. 1879 The Rotomahana, the firs trading vessel built of mild steel an* with a cellular double-bottom, arrived 1881— Entry of the company in thf South and Western Pacific trade. Thi* service commenced from Australia i* ISB3. 1882 — The Manapouri, the; first vessel fitted throughout with electric light, arrived. 1885—West Coast coal tra.de started: first South Sea Island excursion run

by the Wairarapa; the Mararoa, the first vessel with triple-expansion engines, arrived. 1887 —The Pukuki, the first vessel with quadruplicate engines, arrived. 1890— Company entered the Calcutta trade. 1891 — Tasmanian Coast trade com- | menced. 1904—The Loongana, the first tar- | bine vessel, arrived. 1913 —The Niagara, the largest oilfuel New Zealand pasenger vessel, arrived. 1922—The Aorangi, then the largest Diesel passenger vessel afloat, arrived- 1

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