THE BLUE STAR LINE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11305, 21 June 1902, Page 6

THE BLUE STAR LINE.

We are aware that in the astronomical world the heavenly bodies have their periods of rising and setting, and their own proper rates of motion, and that it is vain for finite man to attempt either to hurry or retard their movements. It seems to us that the mysterious BCue Star line of steamers, to which the Government are supposed to have given the South African contract, has not only adopted an astronomical name, but intends to keep strictly to astronomical methods of taking its own time. Perhaps the Government not aware that it was dealing • wnV*i e ' of the heavenly bodies when it accepted Mr. Sleigh's tender, but the public would really like to know, and we think titey should now be informed, whether thers » any probability of this mysterious Blue Star making its appearance on the N«w Zealand horizon, or whether its orbit is cometary, so that it is likely to shootoff in another direction, and so disappear from our ken. Seriously speaking, astronomy is one thing and business is another, and shipping contracts ought to be carried out on strictly business lines. If the tender for shipping to open up a trade to South Africa has been accepted, why are the vessels not forthcoming? So far as we can learn, the contract 'has not even yet been signed, and even Sir Joseph Ward seems to be ignorant as to the cause of the delay, except that he "supposes" the Company's solicitors are in some way to blame. Are the Government content to allow themselves to lbs put off anflM played with in this way? Ib the Biulp Star Company to be allowed an unlimited time to make its arrangements—nay, even to decide whether,it will make any arv rangements at all? __- If the Government had accepted the New Zealand offer mode to them they .would have known that they were dealing with a Company with the necessary steamers at' b its command, and .... ' ' i- "i ' " ' ' ' ■ ' ' '. the trade would have been already in full swing. As it is, New Zealand, is simply being robbed of its opportunities to secure a share of the South African business. Peace has been declared, the rush to settle and develop the country has already commenced, and our producers and shippers have to look on helplesaty while their rivals are getting a firm "grip of the trade. What makes the position still more exasperating is that we are losing the connection, small though it was, which the New Zealand shipping companies opened 1 up for ua without any subsidy from the Government and at considerable loss to themselves. No one expects that those companies will receive any consideration from the Government on account of the enterprise they displayed,_ or the sacrifices they made. In the interest of the colony, however, we think that the Government ought at ohce to find out. whether the Blue Star Com* pony means business or not, whether it has any steamers suitable for the trade, and, if not, how Long the colony is to be kept dawdling on watching its rivals snap up all the trade while New Zealand pro. ducers await the Blue Star Company's convenience. ■