THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1882. THE DIRECT STEAM SERVICE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2698, 30 November 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1882. THE DIRECT STEAM SERVICE.

In another column will bo found an extract from the “ Daily Times ” stating the arrangements made by the New Zealand Shipping Company for establishing a steam service quite irrespective of the tenders called for by the Government. Although we have known for some time that the Company had fully made up its mind to start ;ho service, yet it is satisfactory to bo assured that no hitch lias occurred in its operations, and that the lino will bo un fait accompli as early as January next, for that is the date oa which the first steamer will start from Loudon. The vigor with which the company has acted in the matter is in striking contrast with the apathy displayed by Government. Indeed it is difficult to imagine how the Ministry could have bungled the affair more completely than it has. Under pretext that matters would be hastened thereby it determined that only the Agent-General should bo allowed to call for and receive tenders. And yot it is to bo almost a year after the resolution passed (be House that the first steamer is to leave the Thames. This is what is facetiously termed hastening matters by entrusting them to the Agent-General. If the Government had wished to completely play the fool with the resolutions of the House, it could hardly havo acted with more consummate tact.

And when wo como to consider tlio bonndc-n duty of every Government to foster the industries of tlio country over which it presides, tiro affair looks still woree If ic had been avowedly hosrila to local enterprise it could not possibly have acted with more prejudice against a local company than it has. And thero is no use blinking at tho actual facts of the case. It is as well to call a spade a spade, and have done with it. The Government terms were practically dictated by a gentleman who has a largo interest, in a rival company, which in reality is hardly a New Zealand company at all. Not to put too fine a point upon it, the object of the Government terms was to ignore tho local company os much as possible, and either stifle tho object of tho resolution by a masterly inactivity, or throw the benefits to be derived from tho contract into hands other than those of tha Now Zealand Shipping Company. With a

full knowledge that thia Company were fully prepared to meet them half way, the Government have gone on as if no such company existed. The facile way in which the Government have acted in putting off the date of the commencement of the service has shown that the arrangement under which the receiving of contracts was delegated to the A gentGenoral alone was a more pretext, purposely intended to handicap the local company.

But the energy displayed by the New Zealand Shipping Company is pretty certain to force the hand of the Government. If we come to reflect what the Company promise ns, it is difficult to imagine that now, even if the Government terms aro accepted by any other company, that company can hope to gain the public favour in the face of the opposition which will have already been established for six months. The Government terms are practically those which might he offered to a lino of sailing vessels. It offers only 30s per ton ordinary measurement for Government cargo, whereas I si earners from Melbourne eecure 80s per ton for their cargo. This mast st once stamp the class of steamer that will ha employed. It allows a passage of fifty days, whereas the Shipping Company’s vessels will, it is anticipated, comfortably do the passage in forty-five days. The Company’s vessels are to be of 4000 tons, whereas the Government terms only secure vessels of 3000 tons. The Shipping Company’s ships will be as fine ones as many tunning on the Orient and P. and O. lines, while those secured by the Government will, at best, ho both slower and less capacious, for we may be very sure that as the proposals stand, so will any tendering company cut its cloth. Moreover, the New Zealand Shipping Company will have the interests of colonial trade thoroughly at heart, seeing that its shareholders are themselves colonists. And lastly, the N.Z. Shipping Company’s lino will have secured the public goodwill arid a large portion of trade, before any rival line comes into existence. In consideration of all this it is to ho trusted that the Government will look existing circumstances fnll in the face, and not throw away £20,000 a-year that may well he spared to the country. The entire position is completely altered by the attitude taken up by the New Zealand Shipping Company. The sum was voted because no direct lino existed. In another six weeks a direct line will exist. Why then spend the money ? Will the Government keep up its antipathy to the local company, and be ruled by the gentleman to whom we have alluded to above, or will it congratulate itself that the object aimed at by the resolution of the House can be gained without a penny of the public money being spent. If it refuses to do the latter it will stand self-convicted of a gross piece of blind favouritism. The present and plain duty of tho Government with regard to the direct line is to hug itself at tho thought that it has been started at no expense to tho country, and to do all in its power to aid the proprietors of tho new line. The new lino will do more than the Government ever thought of asking, except the carrying of Government freight at 30s per ton, and most certainly the £20,000 per annum was not voted to gain that concession. As for tho public, its plain duty is to hack up in ovory way the new venture.