The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1883. THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1188, 20 December 1883, Page 2

The Temuka Leader. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1883. THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY.

Sir Francis: Dillon Bell has made an excellent Agent-General; He has done good service with bis paper on Colonial Finance, and has been the leading spirit in pressing the Annexation Question on the attention of Lord Derbj. But a nasty rumor concerning him has gained currency. Ha is accused of favoring the Shaw, Saville line of steamers in preference to those of the New Zealand Shipping Company's. How he could possibly do this is a mystery. The New Zealand Shipping Company is looked upon with favor by the Govern T ment, and vetj justly so, because there can be no doubt but that this colony owes a good deal to its energy and enterprise m the past. Furthermore, the Company is a New Zealand one, and ought to receive more encouragement and support from New Zealanders than any outsider, Unless Colonial Institutions and Colonial Productions receive encouragement and support from colonists themselves it is hopeless to expect that New Zealand will reach that degree of prosperity which all of us yearn to 6ee. All things being equal it is a duty we owe our adopted country to give preference to its institutions and the production of its industries, for this is the only way in which its industries can be developed. In the case of the Ne\r Zealand Shipping Company, its ships are not onlj equal but superior to the rival line, Everyone knows that for speed, comfort and eyprything else that could tend to give satisfaction to the public, the vessels of the New Zealand Shipping Company have held the sway in the past, and the steamers which have so

far arrived under their flag give an assurance that that degree of excellence will be maintained in the future. In South Canterbury we have every reason to feel grateful to the New Zealand Shipping Company. After the last disaster in Timaru, owners of vessels began to fight shy of that port, and for sometime it looked as if its trade was hopelessly gone. The New Zealand Shipping Company, however, came to the rescue. , It .not only sent its vessels to Timaru, but also established a branch office there. This ought to make the. South Canterbury people ever grateful to the Company, for only that they set the example at that time it is probable that the shipping of limaru would not be what it is to-day. Of all the institutions started since the commencement of the colony, there is none that has discharged its functions with greater regard to the interests of the public than the one under review. The Bank of New Zealand has its money locked up in land instead of reserving it for commercial purposes, ! the Mercantile Companies screw the last farthing out of those that get into their clutches, a trades -union compact exists between Insurance Companies, under which all of them make the same exorbitant charges, and so on wilh other institutions. But the New Zealand Shipping Company has fulfilled its duties faithfully, and has always kept up with the requirements of the colony. In establishing its line of steamers now it gives further proof of its determination to keep pace with the growing necessities of tlie colonial trade. And when these vessels are of the best kind, as they b&ve proved themselves to be, we think thaV tire agent of the Government in London ought to throw tbe weight of his influence in their favor instead of extending his patronage to the rival line. It is possible that a mistake has teen made. The charge in that when some persons applied to the Agent-General in London for in formation regarding the best means of coming out to this colony, they were tod everything about ShawSaville’s steamers, but not a word about the New Zealand Shipping Company’s. This Sir Dillon Bell has explained in a recent letter, but his explanation has been characterised as very unsatistac tory. We are not in a position to offer an opinion as to whether it is or it is not, but we trust that for Sir Dillon Bell’s credit lie has not been guilty of any such conduct as that of which he has been accused. Placing the rival lines on equal footing the New Zealand Shipping Company’s is by far the best.

Itsfyessels have ma'chr the voyage in 42 days, While the Shaw Saviile Company's vessels take from 45 Jfr 50 days. We hope that erery encouragement will be given to the New Zealand Company, and that we shall hear, no more of the Agent-General's favoritism.