Dunedin Doings

Cromwell Argus, 30 September 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

Dunedin Doings

(From our own corresu ;ndent.) BLUFF-MELBOURNE SKKVK'K. The acceptance of the Union Company's tender tor the reinstatement ul the' Dunediu-BlufT-Melbourne shipping service was announced during the we'ek and it is pleasant to think that the southern end of New Zealand will once more be in direct communication with .Australia. Tnere is no doubt that Sir Joseph Ward deserves credit tor acceuerating thp negotiations that have resulted in the restoration of this service, for, while Mr Coates was keeping - the mattter "steadily in view." he rather preferred to view it from a distance than from close quarters. It is to be noted that Sir Joseph lias not vouchsafed a great deal ul information to the public as to the number of tenders or terms of the contract that has been made. He may be just a little afraid of what Auckland and Wellington might say. [•or Sir Joseph is wise in his day and generation and in cases of this kind he do''s not say a word more than is strictly neoessary. His discretion is born of long- years of political life. But when all i-- said and done he does not need to worry about what the .North may or may not think. For a very long time both Auckland and Wellington have enjoyed the fruits of highly-subsidised mail services to Canada and Australia and they can have no kick coming because Dunedin has now been granted the concession of a service to Australia, operating at an interval of some 10 days, evan if. as Sir Joseph cautiously admits, it is going io cost the Government a considerable amount by way of subsidy. All that now remains is For the merchants and tho general public of the South Island Io support this service, which has been re-established after • lapse of something like \(> years, an by this means to iustifv the action c; tin; Government in doing- something tangible to advance; the interests ol a portion of the Dominion that, during recent years. has been rather overlooked by' our legislators.