THE SOUTH AFRICAN STEAM SERVICE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11398, 8 October 1902, Page 6

THE SOUTH AFRICAN STEAM SERVICE.

The Government, we learn, have accepted a tender for the long-talked-of direct steam service to South Africa. We mentioned at the time that'the specifications were so drawn up as practically to exclude the local companies—the New Zealand Shipping Company, the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, and the Union Steam Ship Company—from competing, and, as a matter of fact, we learn that they did not tender for the service. As to who the successful tenderers actually are there seems at present to be some mystery. We are told that the contract has been secured by the New Zealand and South African Steamship Company, but as this is obviously a name assumed for the purposes of the new service we are not much wiser. We hope that when the official reticence ia removed it will be found that the .tenderers have steamers ready, and are in a position to carry out the contract at once. We do not want a repetition ,of what happened on a former occasion,, -when the Government waited patiently for months while Mr. Sleigh carted his concession round the market, and, in .the end found nobody willing to take it up. A point which is not very clear in the conditions telegraphed is a« to the terms on which the Company are allowed to relinquish the contract at the end of one year, if it is found not to pay. We presume that in that case they will not draw any subsidy at all, although the point is not put so dearly as it might be. The mere fact of such a stipulation being made seems to show a want of confidence ia regard to the opening*-- for New Zealand produce in South Africa. This is not to be wondered at, considering the appalling waste of precious- time which has occurred, allowing our rivals to get their business connections firmly established while our own Government w«ted on the convenience of Mr. Sleigh.