STATE-OWNED STEAMERS

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12482, 19 April 1906, Page 4

STATE-OWNED STEAMERS

THE COASTAL AND INTERCOLONIAL SERVICES.

A SOCIALISTIC PROPOSAL. The transference of the colony's mercantile marine from private to public ownership is regarded by the Labour Conference os "a Socialistic plum ripe for pickinrr " and the manner in whioh this is to be accomplished was settled iri a forty-fire minutes' discussion yesterday morning. Mr R. Breen (Otago) moved—'That ; the Government be urged to nationalise the marine coastal and intercolonial service." The mover referred to the seamen's dispute before the Arbitration Court in Dunedim, and eaid that tho profits of the Union Steam Ship Company were shown, during tho hearing of that ease, to have been from 1001 to 1904 no less than £387,514. which enabled the company io pay dividends from 8 to 10 per cent., which absorbed £204,000, and allowed £183,000 to be added to the reserve fund. He also referred to tho fact that during the plague scare the Union Company raised its fares, and they had never been reduced again. From calculations "he had made, he was satisfied that on its Melbourne trade the company made a profit of £100 a week. It would not be so bad if the men employed by it got some share of these large profits, tut tho Arbitration Court, in the dispute referred to, refin-ed to concede anything. The capital of tho company was something like £600,000, and the valuo of its fleet was set down at £1,500,000. He admitted what they were asking for was a Large order, but there was no reason why it should not bo carried out. Mr D. McLaren (Wellington) seconded ' the motion, and went on to say that not only did tho shipping companies want watching, but the Government itself. He was speaking on behalf of the wharf labourers in Wellington, who were paid by tho Government for handling coal a rate less than the Arbitration Court awarded, and if delegates knew exactly what happened they would not have much respect for the Anti-Strike law. The men simply refused to work at the price, and they wero now getting tho ruling rate of wages. Mr J. T. Paul (Otago) said ho would liko to draw the attention of tho Conference, to the fact that when the Premier hinted at inaugurating a State service lietwcen New Zealand and West of England ports, the farmers all suddenly became socialists, and in many country papers tho Government was loudly prated for the proposal. It only went to showhow necessary it was that they should endeavour to educate tho people a good deal further in the principles of Socialism.

Mr A. Collins (Wellington) suggested the inclusion of river t-ervioes in the motion, which was accepted by the mover.

The Chairman did not think that the nationalisation of thesa marine services was as big an order as the nationalisation of the mineral wealth. The steamers required for the purpose should be built within the colony, and ought to be convertible into cruisers if required, for the colony might somo day have difficulties with its Asiatio neighbours. They should also insist on tho Government having a monopoly of the services when they did tako them in hand. The companies were making far more than the public really knew. They were becoming haughty and powerful, and tho public was suffering. Mr J. Uarr supported tho motion. Mr A. Collins complained that in 1893 the iseamen suffered a reduction of 20s a month and 6d an hour overtime. They had only got 10s a month back through tho Arbitration Court, while the 6d for overtime had never l>een restored. Mr Collins went on to advocate that the seamen and wharf labourers should club together and put £.500 into tho Union (Jompany in tho shape of share capital, so they would, be entitled to know the true state of the company's affairs as shareholders. Tho balance-sheet put before tho Arbitration Court in Dunedin did not fhow this. He voted for i_e mot : on as a protest against the Union Company's treatment of tho seamen and wharf labourers.

The motion was then put and carried,