The South African Service.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 271, 18 October 1902, Page 1

The South African Service.

London, October 16. The New Zealand and South African Steam Ship Company, with a capital of £250,000, has been registered. The London diiectors include Messrs K. S. Anderson, J. W. Hughes (of the Orient-Pacific Company), Milburn (of the AngloAustralian Steam Navigation Company), Houlder (of Houlder Bros.), and T. L. Devitt (of Devitt and Moore). Christchurch, October 16. Kinsey, Barnes and Co., agents for the New Zealand and African Steam Ship Company, the successful tenderers for the service to South African ports, stote that the provisions insisted upon by the Government and inserted in the contract are of an exceptionally stringent nature. The clause enabling the contractors to throw up the contract was looked upon as being the strongest point in favour of the colony. The officers of industries and commerce and the agricultural departments had to bo satisfied that the arrangements would suit them before a tender was accepted. The firm state that orders have come in very satisfactorily, but business is being done not. so much by merchants here as from the South African side. The agents say that they are notable just yet to disclose the names of their principals, but it is immaterial to the public who tbe " principals are so long as they are supplied with a service and are satisfied that the contract will be carried out properly. The conditions laid down by the Government they think are a sufficient guarantee in that direction.

The Christchurch Press says it is in a good position to state that the New Zealand and South African Steam Ship Company is in reality a combination of the Federal Steam Ship Company and Messrs Moulder Brothers, and that these firms are working in conjunction with the South African Cold Storage Company, which has the Imperial contract, known as Berge's contract, for supplying meat to South Africa. Under the agreement the conti actors are obliged to get as much as possible of their supplies from the colonies, and owing to the Australian drought are compelled to draw on New Zealand for frozen meat. They have already made large purchases from various firms in the colony. It is stated on good authority that only a small proportion of produce being sent to South [Africa at the present time from New Zealand is consigned on producers' account, most of it having been purchased in the colony by contractors and others.