The Press. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1883.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5703, 29 December 1883, Page 2

The Press. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1883.

Thobb who in their place in Parliament refused to sanction the temporary arrangement made by the Government with the New Zealand Shipping Company, must by this time, we should imagine, be convinced of the mistake they made. The arrangement waa that, in consideration of the enterprise shown by the Company in establishing a very efficient steam service, the Government, subject to the approval of Parliament, undertook to grant the company certain exclusive advantages for a limited tune, namely, one year from the first of November last. These exclusive advantages were the privilege of carrying all Government immigrants at rates named in the agreement, Government cargo on the same terms as those at the time in force for Government material, and postage at the rate of one penny per letter. In return for this concession the company undertook to provide a steamer once every calendar month each way, not exceeding fifty days to and from New Zealand; each of the vessels to visit at least two of the foUowing ports "in the colony, namely, Auckland, Wellington, Lyttelton, and Port Chalmers, at the option of the Company. When this i very modest arrangement was submittedfor theapproval of t_eLeg___nre,along debate ensued, and on the division being taken the Government were defeated by a majority Of five. The question was thereupon referred to a Select Committee, which reported against any contract being entered into before next session. It was xeo___ded,however, —atm the meantime the Gove_ameht should make such ftrra-go-iMita consistent with efficiency as

would be least bundensome on the publio revenue; and that in making such arrangement due regard should be paid to the | claim which the New Zealand Shipping Company, by its enterprise, has upon the colony. These recommendations, it is obvious, left the whole matter in the hands of the Government. They were precluded, it is true, from entering! into a permanent contract pi? any kind. But from time to time they were to make, the best possible arrangement they could, and in doing so they were to gi# the preference to the New Zealand Shipping Com-: pany. Some considerable anxiety was shown by several members to know what the Government intended to do. lkston was questioned by Mr. Moraio——&t on the subject. The member for*—karoa wanted to know: Would arrangements be made with a particular Company at a certain price, would other Companies be in* vited to send in tenders, or'would the Government divide the business between two ot—three companies. Mr. EomiEston refused' to give an explicit reply, but added that the Government would approach the matter with na desire to act evasively or "to do thatfwhich either the House or the CommitteeJ had decided would be inexpedient under existing circumstances." \^

There is but little information available regarding what has been done since, but it is understood that the Agent-General, in the beginning of November drossed a minute to the New Zealand Shipping Company and the Shaw-Saville-Albion Company, on the subject of the conveyance of Government emigrants and freight. Both Mr., Atnslbt and Mr. Richabdson, in their speeches'at the banquet the other evening, referrtfdHjo the document, which, from what we can gather, is an elaborate attempt to defend the action of the Agent-General's department in dividing the Government business between the two Companies. Sir Dii—on Bkoi. even take 3 the credit, as Mr. Eichakdson stated, of having insisted upon th e Shaw-Sav—e-Albion Company building two first-class steamers for the New Zealand trade, in order that they might take their share of the Government business. And while acknowledging the enterprise of the Shipping Company in estab- j lishing the first monthly line of steamers, he then proceeds to detract from that credit by claiming that the mass of information brought together by the Government waa of great value to the Company, in enabling them to form correct conclusions on the subject of direct steam communication. In a word, the AgentGeneral is evidently deeply impressed with the conviction that it is in the interests of New Zealand that the Shaw-Saville-Albion Company should have a full share of the public and private business of the Colony. Now, while admitting the advantages of competition, even in providing this colony with a direct steam service, we think the Agent-General might, with the utmost propriety, have left the matter to be settled between the Companies them selves, without taking the unusual course of "requiring" one of the Companies to build first-class steamers in order that they might secure a share of the Government business.

In determining what support should be given to the local Company as against its rival, very much depends upon the interpretation put upon the words " due regard " to the "claims which the New Zealand Shipping Company, by its enterprise, has upon the colony." As long as the arrangement would cause no unnecessary burden en the publio revenue, it appears to us that the Shipping gompany should have the preference on all occasions. To begin with, the Company is a colonial institution in the best' Benso of the word, owned to a large extent by colonial capital, and directed by gentlemen resident in the colony. The whole of. New Zealand is immediately interested in the success of the enterprise _pon which the Company is embarked, whilst its failure would be not—ing short of a national misfortune. In these circumstances it ought not to be difficult to estimate the claim which the Company has upon the colony. Owing to the pluck and enterprise of a number of our fellow colonists, New Zealand is now in the enjoyment of a high class monthly service with | the Mother Country. At the time when the idea was first taken up, the rival company refused to join in the risk of such an enterprise. But now, when it has turned out to be a success it is gravely proposed that the benefits should be shared as near as possible on equal terms. Were the Shipping Company not even a local institution at all, it would deserve well at the hands of the people of New Zealand, and we should strongly protest against official interference in any way in favour of an opponent. But when it is remembered what kind of institution the Company is, it becomes not only our interest but our duty to assist it by every means in our power.