The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1884. THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1238, 11 September 1884, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1884. THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY.

It is admitted on ah sides that Sir Francis Dillon Bell has been very suecessful as Agent-General, but there is one matter in which he interfered to an extent that will not be approved of by the majority of the people in this colony. About eighteen mouths or two years ago a letter appeared in ie papers to the effect that he' was using his influence to an undue exunt to put the Colonial trade in the way of the ShawSavill Shipping Company. This letter was written by a man who stated that on applying at the Agency in London as to the best way of coming out to this colony, he was advised to go totheShawSavill Company, and was never told anything about the New Zealand Shipping Company. Sir F, D. Bfll tried to explain this, but it was held his explanawas not satisfactory, He also stated that he had induced the Shaw-Savill Company to build new steamers by promising them Government business. Later on we find him present at the launching of one of these steamers, and using language which piactically admitted that he connived at giving the Shaw-Savill Company undue advantage as regards Government patronage. In reply to Mr Denny, he said he could not tell what would be done as the Government had been defeated, but he felt sure that the Shaw-Savill Company would meet with support. Reading this in connection with something we have only got the wind of lately, we think that there is, what Mark Twain would call, a “ discrepancy ” somewhere. It was alleged by Mr Stout that certain communications connected with the steam servico's bad been suppressed by the Atkinson Ministry, but what they were remains a dark and inscrutable mystery. It is said there never was smoke except where there was a fire. Putting all these things together, we think that they point only to one conclusion, and that is that Sir F. D. Bell lias some particular affection for the Bhaw-Savil! Company. Now it would matter very little to us where Sir F. D. Bell’s “love lies ” if we did not know that this may ■Uad to placing the New Zealand Shipping Company at a great disadvantage. Of all our institutions there is none more deservedly popular, because none ever conducted its business with greater regard to the good of the colony than the New Zealand Shipping Company. People growl and grumble at banks, loan agencies, and other institutions, but the rich and tiie poor, the great and the small have always a kind word for the New Zealand Shipping Company. In the first place it is a Colonial Institution, owned and directed practically by Colonists, which is a great consideration in these days, when absenteeism is ruining ue. In the second place it has fulfilled the end for which it was started in an extremely satisfactory manner, and has secured universal popularity through having studied so carefully the public good. There can be no doubt but that it has been one of the best friends Colonists have had in the past, and if it gets fair play it will be a good friend in the future. It never was behind the times, it always kept ahead of the business of the colony, and its latest development—the establishment of direct steam communication with the Old Country—gives proof of what its intentions are for the future. Under these circumstances we think it is entitled to every consideration from this colony, and that it ought under no circumstances to be placed in the same category as foreign, shipping companies. But, so far as we know, it is not even getting its fair share. We cannot at all see the use of subsidising the Fan Francisco Mail steamers now, when we have direct steam communication once a fortnight. The trade which the Yankees do with us must pay the steamers, and it appears to us nothing shore of throwing away money to expend it on them. The Yankees have had the best of us all along, and it is time we came to realise it. As regards the Shaw-Savill Company, it is undoubtedly an advantage to this colony that they should come into competition with the New Zealand Shipping Company ; that is, provided the trade can support the double service, which we doubt. If there is room for a fortnightly steam service now, there is no doubt but the trade was neglected during the long years wo were discussing the subject and subsidising a monthly mail service. When Mr Macandrew advocated a subsidy some three or four years ago be was laughed at, and it was not supposed then that we would have direct steam communication for years to come, We believe that the trade was larger in 1b79 and 1880 than it is at present, yet the Shaw-Savill Company hesitated to undertake the task until Mr Coster went Home, chartered a few steamers, and ran them without any subsidy at all. Since then the Company have built steamers of their own. We are glad his fellow-colonists have appreciated Mr Coster’s enterprise and energy ; they highly honored him on his return to the colony, and no one can , hut that he merited it well. Why did the Shaw-Savill Company wait until it found the Other Company making a success of it ; what made it hesitate? Because it had neither the pluck, the energy nor the enterprise to undertake it, and its interests were not so hound up with the colony as those of the New Zealand Shipping Company, whose shareholders live hero. The

Shaw-SftviU Company’s interest in this Colony consists in the profit it can make out of the trade ; a desire to advance the Colony must mingle wish the feelings of the New Zealand Shipping Company, as shown by the fact that the latter plunged into the, undertaking when the other would not touch if. There is a reason why South Canterbury people should feel for ever grateful to the New Zealand Shipping Company. After the fearful disaster of the 14th of May, 1882, the shipping 1 deserted the port of Tiraaru altogether. Ships could not be found to come for love or money until the New Zealand Shipping Company restored confidence in the port by sending their own vessels. Thus on all occasions the New Zealand Company is foremost in every endeavor to advance the Colony, and on this ground we think that the Colony ought to take care that its interests are fostered. If in this race of competition it should come to grief it would be a national calamity and a very heavy blow to New Zealand. It is one of the few colonial institutions of which we all feel proud, »nd we trust that those in power will extent to it patronage commensurate with the services it has endered to this. colony. SIR JULIUS VOGEL. A rumor has gained currency in London to the effect that Sir Julius Vogel is to succeed Sir F. D. Bell as AgentGeneral. We should not be at all surprised at this—that is, provided the Government can weather through the session. It is stated that the great trump card Sir Julius has to play with regard to finance is the inscribed stack idea. He boasts of having saved £30,000 a year to the colony in that way before, but Major Atkinson also lays claim to this, and it is a fact that the Loan Agents have been at work at this business for a couple of years. It is very probable that Sir Julius Vogel will go Home to inscribe the stock ; of course no one else could do it so well, and no one else would charge so much for doing it either. Sir Julius will make the colony pay himself at any rate if he continues Treasurer. THE NEXT LOAN. There is a rumor afloat that the next loan will be either three or four millions. We have already borrowed thirty millions, and there are only two millions of money in the colony now. Where has the money gone to ? What is the good of burrowing money if as fast as w-j borrow it it goes away again ? If Parliament agrees to a continuance ot this scandalous state of affairs, we may as well give up hopes of ever seeing this colony in a prosperous condition. The latest telegrams state that colonial produce is declining. What hope then is there for the farmer whose land is mortgaged if the prices continue as low as they are now ? How can he possibly benefit by increased borrowing? If the Government borrowed ten millions it would not improve the condition of the overburdened farmer one farthing, and as the straitened circumstances of the farmers are the cause of the depression nothing which will not relieve them will be of the slightest use, DISTRICT RAILWAYS. The correspondent of the Press says that the object of the District Railways Leasing Bill, of which Sir Julius Vogel has given notice, is to enable the Government to lease for 21 years from the Companies who own them the railways constructed under the District Railways Act. Surely not I Such a thing would bo monstrous. These district railways are the most thoroughgoing political jobs ever thought of. They were made in places where corrupt as past Governments have been they would not dare to make them. The large landowners in the districts through which they run formed themselves into companies, got extraordinary facilities in the shape of grants of land, etcr., and built these railways with the view of increasing the value of their own lands. As an instance of this class, we may point out the Duntroon line. The interest on the cost of construction of this line comes to £3979, but instead of paying that it was £2790 under working expenses last year, and the total loss on it was £6774. There is another line somewhere in Otago where the people in the district are rated 3s 4d in the £to keep it up. These are the sort district railways are, and if these are amalgamated with the State railways now, it will be one of the greatest pieces of jobbery that ever was perpetrated. The people who constructed them to increase .the value of their properties cannot make them pay, but the Government is going to take them over and make the ratepayers of this colony pay for them for the next 21 years. About that time the population of this colony will have increased to such an extent that the district railways will be a good property, and the Government will hand them back to their fomer owners. They will make the colony pay lor making a grand property of them. Surely this cannot be true !