A SHIPPING LINE’S CENTENARY

Press, Volume C, Issue 29674, 18 November 1961, Page 3

A SHIPPING LINE’S CENTENARY

Shaw Savill Line. One Hundred Years of Trading. By Sydney D. Waters. Whitcombe and Tombs. 158 pp. Index.

The first Shaw Savill ship to reach New Zealand was the Avalanche, 753 tons, which arrived at Auckland on September 27, 1858, after a passage in 95 days. During the next few months no fewer than 18 other Shaw Savill vessels reached New Zealand. From this vigorous beginning over one hundred years ago, the history of the company has been closely linked with New Zealand's growth. The story is here told (with the help of company management) by the veteran journalist, Mr Sydney D. Waters. Mr Waters’ virile narrative is full of lively anecdotes—stories of immigrant ships catching fire, of violence and death on the high seas, of castaways and stowaways, of famous little wooden sailing ships, of the first steamers. Throughout, is the thrill of reading of remarkable ships that are now household names. The company owes its beginning to a violent disagreement that a determined young Scot named Robert Ewan Shaw had with his employer, the London shipping firm of Willis, Gann and Company. When he had his wages cut, he resigned taking with him his 21-year-old assistant, Walter Savill, and others of the company. They set up on their own as Shaw Savill and Company, and with insufficient capital to build or buy ships, they chartered vessels to bring cargo and emigrants to the young colony of New Zealand. The confidence and optimism‘of these young men could not have allowed them to foresee that their enterprise was eventually to become one of the leading British shipping companies. Today the company's fleet includes 38 owned or chartered ships, and Lyttelton has given safe harbourage to most of the company’s vessels ever since 1858. Though there has always been keen competition, the company has benefited by many episodes in New Zealand's history. During the Maori Wars of the 1860's, for instance, the company acted as agents for the Admiralty in handling troops and military supplies. In the late 1850’s and early 1860's the of gold led to a

rush of emigrants, and this also brought, profitable business to the company. Competition between Shaw Savill and the Albion Line, however, kept standards of efficiency high, and the comfort of passengers was well maintained while prices were kept low. These two lines enjoyed almost a monopoly of the New Zealand trade until the New Zealand Shipping Company was formed in 1873. This new competition brought about the amalgamation of the two British companies, and the Shaw Savill and Albion Company, Ltd., was thus formed in 1882. At this time the present house flag was adopted, the original “national” flag of New Zealand chosen by Maori chiefs in 1834 and recognised as such by the British Government until New Zealand became a British colony in 1840. Mr Waters writes interestingly about the history of this flag, New Zealand’s first national emblem thus happily saved from obscurity. In the 1880’s the company had to meet competition from another quarter, when the White Star Line, hitherto trading only across the Atlantic, decided to enter the Australia and New Zealand trade. A compromise was reached, whereby White Star agreed to provide three vessels—the Doric, lonic and Coptic, whilst Shaw Savill and Albion provided the Arawa and Tainui. In later years for the Australian trade especially, there came competition from the Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line, but in due time this matter was happily adjusted also. More recently Shaw Savill have become the managing agents for the Crusader Shipping Company to develop the frozen beef trade in the Pacific.

In four wars during the 100 years of its existence, the line has played its part in transporting troops, materials and food supplies. In the Maori Wars, and in conveying contingents of soldiers and horses in the South African War. no losses were sustained. In the 1914-18 war, several ships were attacked by submarines and some damaged, but only two were totally lost through enemy action. But in the Second World War 13 ships were lost, three in one day during that memorable effort in August, 1942, to raise the siege of Malta. After the war the company was faced with the need to rebuild the fleet

Older ships have been disposed of and 25 modern vessels built and put into service since 1947.

Over the last 100 years few companies can claim a fairer record of service to New Zealand or so many famous ships. There was the beautiful clipper, Crusader (1869) which in its day was more famous than the Cutty Sark. The Albion Line’s Dunedin brought the first consignment of frozen meat from Port Chalmers to London, and so began a pattern of trade that has had a profound effect on both the United Kingdom and the Dominion. The Jervis Bay achieved immortality in 1940; the faithful Akaroa, which bore a charmed life consistently free from accidents for over 40 years until it went to the breakers in 1954; the Gothic, which carried Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh around the world to visit Commonwealth countries in 1953-54; the revolutionary Southern Cross; the Dominion Monarch, Athenic, Ceramic, Corinthic, Almaric. Of these and many other fine ships Mr Waters writes with absorbing interest. Though rather specialised in its interest, this grand book will provide many hours of enjoyment to all lovers of ships. There are 15 pages of photographs. Every reader will wish that there were more.

RELIGION Freedom From Fear. By Gordon Powell. Hodder and Stoughton. 128 pp. The author' of “Freedom From Fear” is a minister of the Presbyterian Church in Australia. Part of his work is in the radio and television studio; he is frequently seen and heard in religious and devotional sessions. An extensive correspondence with viewers and listeners has persuaded him that many people suffer from the unhappiness a troubled or a guilty conscience induces. “Freedom From Fear" gives Mr Powell's response to this particular problem. He tries to show how the Christian faith can bring help and consolation in these circumstances. Even those who are not in such desperate straits will find the last chapter stimulating. Its title is “What to Do with Worry.” The advice given is sound. ", I