THE UNION STEAMSHIP COMPANY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 204, 1 September 1887, Page 8

THE UNION STEAMSHIP COMPANY.

What it Does and What It

Spends.

(BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

• ■ " l Dunedin, this day. Mr James Mills, speaking at Port Chalmers on Tuesday night, argued against a special tax on colonial shipping. He said for the kindly manner in which his opponent had spoken of him, he wished to thank him, but he understood that he had been endeavouring to raise a little feeling against the Company to which he (Mr Mills) belonged, by declaring his intention to get ships made subject to tho property tax, to abolish subsidies, and even to close the Victoria Channel. With regard to the property tax, ho feared it would be unworkable, as it could only be levied on locally-owned ships, and might have the effect of driving their owners to register them elsewhere. Otherwise, by being subject to this, they would be at a disadvantage in competing with steamers on the coast registered elsewhere. We had now on the coast steamers from both Germany and New South Wales, and we had also sailing ships doing coastal work sailing from Germany and America, and we had also steamers from abroad, both American and English. To render such a tax consistent it would be necessary to protect locally-owned ships, and provide legislation that, none other should be allowed to trade to our ports. This would be very satisfactory provided other colonies should not retaliate. In that case where would be New Zealand? Steamers would not be allowed to .visit Australian ports, nOr would Australian steamers bo allowed to visit New Zealand ports. This would not work well, though, no doubt, it would be quite proper from a protectionist point of view. His hearers' had no doubt seen how recently the Victorian ship owners demanded from this Government some share in the benefits to be derived from the policy of the colony, aud they asked that locally-owned vessels should enjoy exemptions from port dues, and also receive a bounty. This had been refused, but he confessed that he could hot see how they could with any consistency continue to^fo so. He would like to say, however, that although the property tax was not levied on ships, the Company did not escape from contributing their fair share to the government of the colony. They paid, of course, property tax on all their property other than ships' stores, merchandise, etc. They paid in Customs duties on supplies no less than £6,000 or £7,000, and in light dues some £5,000. They paid no less a sum than £12,000 for pilotage and port dues, notwithstanding that they never, or very rarely, utilised the services of pilots. He could mention many other suras to show that the Company contributed very considerably to .the support of the institution of the colony. (Applause. )He made bold to say that the Union Company was the greatest local industry in the colony, and as such deserved every sympathy and consideration both from the people and the Government of the colony, seeing that it was such a large employer of labour, and that by its large expenditure it afforded a great deal of assistance to many deserving industries. The total expenditure last year amounted .to about £600,000, and something like £50,000 per month. The total number of employees ashore and afloat who were under monthly engagements was. I*soo, representing, with families and belongings, 5,000 souls. Of mechanics, labourers, local carriers and others; there were from 500 to 600 who depended upon work from the Company, re{iresenting, with families, etc., probably rom 1,500 to 2,000 persons. They supported directly nearly 7,000' per sons,, besides, indirectly, the tradesmen,'. labourers, etc., with whom they dealt." -Of their expenditure, £200,000 went in wages and labour; • £40,000.in repairß and maintenance (largely labour); £60,000 in victualling alone. In connection with the latter item the Company used in one year no less than 2,000,0001b of meat, equal to 40,000 sheep or £15,000 worth of dairy produce. During the last six months they had carried 80,000 tons of West Coast coal, or equal to 160,000 tons in the year; and their steamers had consumed no less than 120,000 tons of coal themselves. These figure* were very instructive, and when it was considered that the greater part of the money was expended in the colony, it would be admitted that the Company deserved to rank as a local industry, and that it would be inadvisable to do anything to divert any portion of the expenditure away from tne colony. (Applause). __________________