The Evening Star TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1913.

Evening Star, Issue 15373, 23 December 1913, Page 4

The Evening Star TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1913.

It is only some eighty nr so years since the steamship really entered tile world's carrying trade, and unobtrusively, and not without the opposition born of conservatism and prejudice, [ began a- development whoso limits cannot ■ yet be measured. Just about midway in the steamship era, so far as it has gone, | . the Union Company came into being. The . birth and growth of this company have been outlined so often that only the ani noimcement made, at yesterday's meeting can excuse one more reference to the subject. For .Sir James Mills, who retires from the position of managing director at the end of this year, has held that position [ from the very boginuing of the largest commercial undertaking in New Zealand, > and one of the largo maritime' concerns ; of the world. He was manager of the J Harbor Steam Company when ho went . Home in 1874 and opened the. negotiations , for the amalgamation of certain interest-3 * which brought about the formation 01 the Union Steam Ship Company. On this, , thfl first of many trips Home, ho ordered i two vessels, the laupo and tho Hawea. ' Within four ycaira the absorption of the > M'Meckan-Blackwood Lino enabled the ; vigorous young company to Complete their ' chain of communication with Australia, and another, four rears saw the beginning

Sir James Mills.

another so rapidly from the Dumbarton yards to take xip their running under tlw familiar house flag that there could no longer bo any room for doubt as to prftgrcssiveness being the policy of those directing the company's affairs, ft would he almost superfluous to trace developments from that day to this. " Vessel after vessel has taken her place in the extended trade routes that have been explored and retained. Along with the enterprise which found avenues of trade have gone a perception of the possibilities therein and the determination to develop them by means not merely equal to present requirements, but always a shade in advance of thorn, and always fully abreast cf the very latest advances in shipbuilding. Sir James Milk has been in the thick of an industry,most intimately connected with the world's progress during a period of steady and remarkable expansion. He. has seen opportunities and lias grasped them, and the company's success and his own success cannot be separated. None, can deny that he has well earned the- measure of leisure which his relinquishing of- active control should bring him.