The Star. THE PROPOSED NEW STEAM SERVICE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7366, 18 January 1902, Page 2

The Star.

THE PROPOSED NEW STEAM SERVICE.

Delivered every evening by 6 o'clock in Hawera, Mnnaia, Normauby, Olraiawa, Eltliain, Jtfangatoki, Kaponga, Awatuna, Opuuake, Otakeho, Manutaui, Altou, Hurleyville, Paten, and Waverloy.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18.

A telegram published on Friday gave the important and satisfactory news that the Government have so far completed arrangements that. within a few day?, they will b9 ca* liog for tenders for a steam service to South Africa via Western Australia. There is some differ en ca of opinion as to whether, owing to a bcareity of back freight from South Africa, it will be possible to get a straight-out New Zealand- AMcan service; but, of course., this aspect of the matter will have been fully con sidered by the Government, and the txpectation of the Premier that a

service will soon be established will, we hope, be realised. It is encouraging to learn that the Trade Commissioner, Mr Gow, after personal enquiry on the spot, is confident of a good market for New Zealand produce. Mr Gow, how.ever, has advised the Government against erecting cool stores, because he thinks " the established firms in South Africa were now in such a position that such a step might militate against New Zealand produce." As this advice is the result of personal investigation, no doubt it will be adopted, and therefore we do not expect the colony will for the present erect cool stores. So far as meat is concerned, in competing for a place in {South African mark6t3 the colony has two rivals to overcome, which have the superior advantage that thay are on the spot, and a 'ready engaged in supply. The first of these is the colonial farmer, chiefly Dutch, who is against all imports of produce, because he wants to reap the harvest of scaicitp, however high prices may go. In the last sitting of the Cape Parliament ha was peculiarly in evidence in his objection to any grant for cool storage which promised to shelter imports, though he was not averse to the expenditure of moaey oa upcountry cool storQ3, and such ns would preserve the produce of the local man. Just at preseut his power is limited, but the other, so far as we can see, or rather so far as we are wanted to see, is in command of the situation so far as the supply of frozen meat is concerned. Letters have lately appeared in the press ridiculing the idea that anyone can compete, or is likely to prepare for competition against the South African Cool Storage Company, which it may be mentioned not long ago paid the sensational dividend of 55 per cent , and with a paid up capital of capital of less than half a million placed £500,000 to the reserve fund. It is said that it would not be worth while any new company expending large sums on refrigerating ma" chinery and buildings, and more stress still is laid on the fact that no other company has, or is likely to have, command of a plant which can deliver meat all over the four colonies, and follow with meat rations the various detachments of the army on the march. It is a circumstance worthy of note that the contract so long enjoyed by the Company mentioned, of 1 1d per lb for meat supplied to the army expires in March next. It was proposed that New Zealand should ereot cool storage for herself in South Africa, but it appears that the storage alone is not sufficient, but must be supplemented, for meat supply for the army, by large plant for delivery. For the storage of dairy produce of course no such plant is necessary. We have not heard of any other company being started to have a " cut in " for this contract. But it would be a great chance for New Zealand to put its new service on a firm basis if it could get associated with the new contract whether taken by the South African company or any competing organisation. We cannot suppose so important an opportunity has been overlooked, and should rather gather from Mr Gow's advice that he considers it would be better to work in with existing or projected organisations rather than ourselves attempt storage and transport operations so far from the colony's direct control.