SIR JAMES MILLS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 20, 24 January 1936, Page 11

SIR JAMES MILLS

FOUNDER OF U.S.S. COMPANY

FAMOUS SHIPPEK

The foremost man in shipping activities in New Zealand, and one who was an admitted leader in shipping matters the world over, Sir James Mills, died in London yesterday in his eightyninth year. The late Sir James was a native of Wellington, being born in the capital city on July 30, 1847, the third son of the late William Mills, a Customs officer of the port. Sir James entered the shipping world as manager for John Jones, of Dunedin, who was then running a harbour ferry, and after the death of his employer he branched out into greater shipping trade, being one of the founders of the Union Steam Ship Company, of which he was chairman at the time of his death, and managing director until 1913. "... The boy James Mills was taken to Dunedin in 1849 when his father became Collector of Customs there. He was educated in that city, and after leaving school entered the business house of Messrs. James Macandrew and Company. A year later he joined Mr. John Jones, where he took charge of the shipping department. When, in 1875, the Harbour Steam Company formed by Mr. Jones, became the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Mr. Mills was appointed managing director. While still quite a youth he was elected member for Waikouaiti, in the provincial district of Otago. and held his seat until the abolition of Provincial Government in 1875. He was invited to contest the Port Chalmers seat for the General Assembly and was returned in 1887. At the next election (fie was defeated, and retired from political life in 1893. A SUPREME EXPERT. By the early nineties Mr. Mills was well known throughout New Zealand and Australia as a supreme expert in all matters appertaining to shipping. His name was inseparably associated with the rise and progress of the Union Company. Although the prosperity of New Zealand early in the present century contributed largely to the rapid growth of the company's trade, Mr. Mills, who became Sir James in 1907, had the foresight to make provision for the development of the country's resources and his exceptional business ability was always a leading factor in the company's success. The meteoric rise of the company is illustrated by the assistance it was able to give the Empire during the years of the Great War. Two of its vessels were transformed into hospital ships; another was used as a dispatch boat in the Mediterranean, and later as a minelayer; and another, the old. Aorangi, served first as a naval store ship and finally was sunk to block one of the channels at Scapa Flow. Others in the later days of the war were taken by the Imperial Government to run the gauntlet of the German submarines. A great passenger steamer of 15,000 tons, destined for the Vancouver service, was transformed into a cruiser, and served as such under the name of H.M.S. Avenger until she fell a victim to a torpedo. The company's vessels transported to the seat of war 61,813 out of 100,444 New Zealand troops; of other troops they carried about;, 45,000. Forty-seven thousand wounded and sick soldiers were carried by the two hospital ships. In their service for the Imperial and other Governments the company's vessels steamed over 3,000,000 miles; at one time there were no less than 18 vessels, of 102,131 tons, on war service. . LAST VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND. Over sixty years after the foundation of the Union Company Sir James revisited his birthplace.- At the time of that visit—midway through last year—he was still a striking figure, being tall, erect, and active in his movements. Who shall say what he thought when he looked out over Wellington Harbour at the ships of his company lying there then? Sixty years before the house flag of his company had flown from the masts of three steamers with an aggregate tonnage of 685 tons, or approximately 228 tons each. It was a small fleet but it was the beginning of the great one of which Sir James was the head when he visited New Zealand last year. During Sir James's visit he could, by walking to the waterfront, see one of his vessels which was the last word in express steamer construction, instruments for navigation, and passenger accommodation. In the matter of tonnage it was nearly ten times bigger than the whole first fleet which flew the house flag of the company in 1875; and it was, and is, a matter of proof whether there is a finer vessel than this engaged in a similar service, in any • part of the world. Sir James may well have felt pride in _ this achievement, for his was the guiding hand which had, during those sixty years, developed one of the great shipping lines of the world. In addition, the enterprise which he founded, developed, and extended was always first among shipping companies in the adoption of new ideas in shipping construction. It was the first to build a steamer of mild steel; first to use electric light in place of the old paraffin lamps hung in gimbals; first to adopt turbines for steamers in longdistance services; first to adopt internal combustion engines for mail and passenger vessels; first, too, in many other improvements in passenger and cargo vessels, venturing boldly into undertakings where others similarly situated hesitated to take steps. PERSONAL COURAGE. The whole history of the company indicates that' Sir James must have been born with a larger amount of personal courage than most men, for he was never perturbed by the untried experiments if he thought it. would add to the efficiency and smooth running of the shipping line he had-built up. It took him between fifty and sixty-years to.make it what it is today, but even in that time the results obtained were 'no mean achievement. The.company, while it was helped by the development of the Dominion, had to struggle against depressions and wars, but Sir James and his co-direct-ors never faltered, aiming' always at the realisation of his dream of over sixty years ago. While much of Sir James's success in the shipping world v/as undoubtedly due to his farsighted policy and his personal courage; he had a lovable disposition that endeared him td all who worked with him. He was held in general respect; a respect that led his employees to do their best for the company they served, and his passing is marked by real grief on the part of all who knew and worked with him. Although he had been living in London for many years, he made frequent visits to New Zealand, and always maintained the personal touch with the company that contributed so largely to the success of his management. thorough, resolute but prudent, with his early knowledge of shipping affairs, his administrative ability, his breadth of view and grasp ot detail, he was the ideal chief for building up a great shipping concern. A judge of men, he was able to surround

himself with competent-assistants and to get the best results from triem.

In 1904 Sir James was made an honorary associate of the Australasian Institute of Marine Engineers, and in 1907 he attended a navigation conference in London as a representative of New Zealand shipping. He was knighted in 1907, being the first man born in New Zealand to receive that honour, and became a Knight Commander of St. Michael and St. George in 1909. He was also a Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England.

Sir James married Annabella, the daughter of William Langlands, in 1871, ;and married a second time in 1888 to Sadie Gertrude, the daughter of Frank Foseery, of Curraghbridge, County Limerick, Ireland. Lady Mills died in 1924. He is survived by two daughters, Mesdames H. J. Beswick and Geraldine Curzon, and one son, Mr. H. J. F. Mills, all of London.

The office of the Union Steam Ship Company in Wellington has received cable advice that Sir James's funeral will take place next Monday.