FATHERS OF PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6314, 14 September 1907, Page 9

FATHERS OF PARLIAMENT

A FOUNDER OF THE UNION CO. HON. GEORGE MoLEAN. One ot the most interesting figures in Parliament to-day is the Hon. George MoLcJU. He docs not appear prominently before tho public, for he hu= done „.1 ii .-trciiuoim work, and his record shows flow well ho deserved Uio quiet old use which he now enjoys. White haired and bent, ho appears a typical ‘■father yt Parliament,” and he is entitled to a similar title of wider elynilicanco, foi few men have dons more to push New Zealand into the forefront of the cole r.ies. It will be conceded by thos’ wtoe have followed tho ups and downs of the colonv, that the Union Steam Ship Company "has been one of the prims factors in mis hill g New Zealand forward to its present position. Without regular munication with tho outer wmld. or with tho indifferent transport facilities 1 which prevailed before the Union Company became a name in the ei loninl trade, the farmer had little incentive

to increase his production; but with an outlet to the world’s markets, enterprise was fostered and life in tne new colony became less of an exile. The growth' of the Union Steam Ship Company has been remarkable. Just a,, the colony has gone ahead with emut strides, so has its principal steamship company kept pace, or rather, kept sligutly ahead of the times until there is nothing liko it in, the world so far as intercolonial steamship undertakings are concerned. ' The man who, years ago, when the Union Company had not even been formed, saw the possibilities of such a concern, and brought it along stage by stage to tho realisation of his ideals, was the non; George McLean, the subject of this week’s biographical sketch. There is an interesting political side to our subject, but his connection with the Union Company is his greatest claim to pro nlnience, and with this we will deal first.

BUITH OF THE UNION, COMPANY. A small JJuneuin company owned three steamers, tne ouautilui otar, maun, and Bruce. The manager was the present ttir James mills, auo saw turn there was room for a much bigger concern and endeavoured to Uoat it. There ’ were not ...vaiea men .who were prepared to launch out the capital necessary, and Mr mills was obliged to return tne deposits made uy tm/se wno nuU agreed to take shares. Mr McLean ■ was then approached. He had long been a prominent business man in Dunedin, and Mr Mills must have wisely realised that the influence of such a name as George McLean would be an important element in the venture. Mr McLean's sympathies were enlisted, he and his paitner, ju- d. B. v,ajgul, attorneys and agents for Albion Shipping Company and Peter Denny and ;Jl. E. Galbraith, managing owners, gave Mr Mills letters of introduction to shipping people in England. Mr Mills went Horae, and : n due course succeeded in arranging with Messrs Denny Brothers, the famous Dumbarton shipbuilding firm, to turn out the two new steamers required. These were the Hawea and the Taupo. The trade of tho old Harbour Company was thus extended, but a greater field was still untouched. OVERSEA EXTENSIONS.

The Kew Zealand Steam Shipping Co. was in active operation on too coast, and Mr McLean, during his stay m Wellington on Parliamentary duties, came into touch with its directors. They wore induced to seo the utility of joining forces with the Union Company, and the concern became merged in the “Ked Funnel Fleet.” At that time the trade between New Zealand and Australia was in the hands of MoMockan, Blackwood and Company. Though it seemed a big thing to tackle, Mr McLean, realising that this company held the key to, the position, set his mind upon acquiiiug its interests, and proposed the bold scheme to his fellow directors. It was a long while before he could make them believe in the practicability of such a proposal, and , even when negotiations ivere opened, the majority 'of Uie Union Company's directors wished to close without effecting a deal, but Mr McLean, who was then in Wellington, succeeded in preventing the "cry-off" by suggesting that a modification in the terms should bo proposed to the New Zealand Company. “I had had experience in running steamers to Melbourne when I was in the firm of Cargill and McLean, and I knew the possibilities of the trade," explained our subject. "X was keeping up a private correb.miukueo about this time with Mr Blackwood, of the firm, and he knew my ideals. Eventually, I went to Melbourne, and in a month I had bought up the line on terms most advantageous to our company, inducing tho Australian firm to take a large number of shares at the sum paid up upon them, though they were then selling at £2 discount. What made thorn more easy to deal with was that ive were building the Rotomahana with a view to running her in the intercolonial trade.” BUILDING UP TRADE.

Thus the company which started with a fleet, having a total tonnage of 4000, made another stride towards its present splendid position, fifty-five vessels with a tonnage of over 119,050 tons. Mr James IJlills was the manager, keeping the concern up to a high level of efficiency, while Mr McLean brought to bear his gift for seeing possibilities of trade, and "getting in" while other people were wondering whether it was worth while. An instance of this is the East Coast trade. This was started with the small steamer Wanakn. which did not nor its way at first. However, under the encouragement of regular transit facilities the trade grew until two passenger steamers make the trip weekly' each way, and others carrying cargo alone are also encaged. The Union Company's trade at first was principally on the West Const. l<nt it soon extended operations to the Pacific Islands. .A sm.Ml tho wop carrx'm* on * rncl FiM. pM nn to +Ms the TJtpWi (Wpnpy ho’*. Tltfw' a wMoh is nnlat fr»pt steamers fle c imv‘*cl far the tremies. ip now completing its iweful em*ee»* in the Imm ble guise of a coal hulk on the ■waters ■

of Port Nicholson. Messrs McEwan and Co. wore running a steamer between Melbourne and iiji, and this was bought out by the Union Company, which continued the service. The Tasmanian trade came next under the influence of the Union Company. It had boon . helping tne Tasmanian Steamship Company 10 hold its p-siuon, but its prospects did not brighten, and when it was found that the Union Com- j pauv, by its articles of association, could ! not' finance another venture, the clirec- i tors ended in buying out the Tasmanian l company, whose shareholders to-ffi a con- | ! sidei ablc amount of the pm chase price ■ iin Union Company scrip This was good j policy, for the Tasmanian investors had , i an interest in the larger concein, an in- i i tcrest which considerably increased as j j time went on. j I Tho year icoo saw the Union Company 1 I extend its operations to VancuuTm', j vvuoii, in cviij with the ucu«u^ [ yieamsnip L-umiJuay 01 can TTmncmcu, it uiiuenook tne carriage of uiaiisueI tween x\eu Zealand and America. Tno 1 passing of mo united states naiigaUon , laws, excluding ©nips from nmv- ’ rican coastal trade mc..nt tne end of this anungement, but it dia not cause any -shrinkage in tho Union company s operations, lor a service irom Au&tiaiia to Vancouver via ouva~-leading tne American xiorts and out ol the run—is being conducted wiin great success. No douot the future will ©ee this great New Zealand company one of the principal units in tuo “--vil bod ' route Lorn New Zealand to England. India is not so far away as to be outside tho Liu t Company s sphere of influence. IT ado is regularly carried out wPh Calcutta, its origination oeing cue co’ veyanco of horses to India and the br iging back of a return cargo. Two 1 la. go steamers are now .profitably employed in this direction. THE UNION COMPANY'S POLICY. : Such a history savours of monopoly, tho critical reader will remark, uai tne Uni-m Coaipany, wmle frankly aiming at monopoly, uas been uiiecled by men who wisnod to help and not mnuer the colony. “Although wo have had a monopoly,"’ said the Tion. George McKean, "it has always been my view tnat we should give back to Now Zealand a certain arniunt of our earnings in shoving New Zealand ahead by opening up new trade, i How this has been done aas been describ|od earlier in tho present aiticlc, hirst, in tho held with sietl steamers, one of tho loading companys to adopt the turbine in ocean-going vessels, and setting a high standard of comfort for passengers travelling on its vessels, tho Union Company lias. a history which should mako us proud cf tho fact that it is New Zealand-owned and New Zealand- j managed. FRIENDS AT HOME, v Most of tiie union Company’s steamers have bum built by .ucs.as conuy brothers, of Dumbarton, and to this- linn tne colony oives a deut of gratitude, \vlun tho liist two steamers were required tor . the company, Messrs Denny ii-rotners 1 took a g.md many shares in tho new ventuie, and induced a large number of their commercial friends to take up de--bentures. They were so eatished with the new company's position that they handed over tho new ships as bum, without any mortgage. What the help ! of Denny Brothers meant to tho Union Company in its small days can be gaugi ed from the fact that Mr Peter Denny T had a reputation for the strictest in- \ tegiity, his idea of moral obligation ' going so far that when a steamship company trading to the River Plate in ; South 4merica got into financial diffi- \ ( culties, Mr Denny shouldered all the ( ! liabilities of friends who had taken ! | shares upon his advice. , . j CAPITAL AND LABOUR. ► ! The great maritime strike .of IKK) ! brought the Hon. George mcLeau into 1 prominence as the representative of tne 1 mull \-\zmpmiy wno controlled its desI tinies during that trying time. Mr -! James Mills was then absent in England, i: and Mr Mccean bore the brunt of the l fight. Starting with tho withdrawal by : the Seamen’s Union of the crew of the i steamer Corinna, the movement extended ■ until the whole shipping trade of Aus- ; tralasia was paralysed. Long before the strike the Union Company had negotiL atod with the men to secure reductions •in wages owing s to the bad times pro- > vailing, but rapitl development of trade • ju .ae me coaipany independent of reduc- . ed wages as a necessary factor to its - continued existence. Free labour was , secured to run eighteen ships within a ■ week of the commencement of the strike, ; and the Union Company's representative • calmly and tactfully protected the shaie- , holders' interests during that time of . stress. When all the men had returned to duty, there was no ill-feeling against the Hon. G. McLean, for the Labour representatives wished him subsequently i to retire from the Legislative Council, l and stand for election to the House of i Representatives. "You have fought us • fairly, and we will support you," was ) j their verdict.

THE FUTURE. "There is a great future before tho Union Company," declared its former chairman of directors, if it will only carry out: tho old policy 'of building steamers up-to-date, keeping well ahead of the requirements of the colony, so that tho public will not be able to say the company is keeping the colony back. Tho company has done a great deal for ’ the colony, opening it un quite as much as tho railways have, but it is due to tho colony that the company should not bo too grasping but give a proper share of its profits to tho advancement of the colony. The company has be-m a success because it has always been carried on as if it had to fight opposition." RETIREMENT. In November, 1906, the Hon. George McLean retired from his position us chairman of the Union Steam Ship Company. He had guided its infant steps, dreamed of its possibilities, and brought them into reality, and be wished to retire from a position carrying oi> muon responsibility because, having reached tho age of seventy-two, he wanted to con- i serve his remaining energy. The utmost j was done to make him reconsider his! decision, but he had chosen the most' fitting time, when there was plain sailing ahead, and the interests of tho comtinny would not be prejudiced. -It was unanimously agreed that, iu recognition ] of his splendid services to the company, a sum of JJISOO bo voted to the retiring chairman towards the expenses of a pioiected trip to England. Illness unfortunately prevented the immediate enjoyment of a well-deserved, rest from business cares, but the Hon. George McLean is now in better health, and looks forward to taking the trip at the end of tho year. . PARLIAMENTARY LIFE. Our subject’s Parliamentary career coriiraehcod in the Otago Provincial Council in the eighties. A thorough commercial training, and a long record of success as a Ranker and merchant, eminently fitted him for tho office of Provincial Treasurer which was filled by him. In 1871, after a trip to England, Mr McLean contested the AVaikouaiti scat,, and won. Ho entered the House as a supporter of abolition of the provinces. his reason being that Otago wa» one of the provinces with a land revenue, ivhile Auckland hod none, but by means of "log-rolling” the poor provinces got the votes, leaving such provinces as Otago to provide the funds. LIVELY TIMES. Politics were much livelier then than at present. Parties were ao evenly divided* that a single uncertain member was worth “nursing” for his vote. The Hon. G. McLean heard some curious stories of how votes were secured. One man who had been brought to agree with a particular party when an important division was imminent, gave his f-ien-lo some anxiety lest the other side should persuade him in another direction, so they !o-kod him up with _ a copious supoly of Hou't. c process which kept him tract'-ble until his vote was renuired. Another member, an "uncertain ouonfitv." had also to be kept under close observation when his vote might have meant turning the balance,

so the good offices of his wife were secured on the side of tho fortunate party. IN TuE MlNUaTßi’i

After muon pci suasion —far he did not care aboiu luu uncertain tenure oi a -\ew Zeumnu —ime -Una. George ALobeau in icuo became of Customs in the Vogel Uuvcinmeul. He soon wished to iea\e, but loyalty to Cue party prevented aim from resigning, and m outer lo get out at me nrst vmpoitunilY he deciintd to take the Usual ministerial salary ihis landed him in the most peculiar position, for Sir George Grey, who w*s tncu in opposition, served him with a \wi. comx>miiog him to take the salary, as it was attached to the oiiice and not the man. He held office as Postmuslcr-ueneral and Commissioner of Telegraphs and Customs in the Atkinson -o. mis try of 18i7, when New Zealand s finances wore not as buoyant as tiuy are now. The Government had failed to gel a .■££o.ooo overdraft from its bunkers, though a bucketful of New Zealand bonds was offered as security, and the Hon. Gcoige McLeaa went to Sydney, ostensibly to attend a cable conference, but having as a more iserious object the raising of funds behalf of the Colony. He succeeded in obtaining a loan of <£500,000 from the Bank of New South Wales. Uur subject had a 1 great admiration for Sir Harry Atkinson, or he would never have ioinod his Ministry for, ns alieady stated, he had become tired of Cabinet c-ic*. Wh.n tho Atkinson Ministiy went out of office. Mr McLean left with a cheerful hen id. He was offered a portfolio in the Hall Ministry in ISSO, but to express it in his own phrase: ‘’T never put my head into the halter I preferred to be independent.’ DAY TUFicS. The Hon. G.orge mcL-can will tell you ho is not a rich man, though many pm dunk tno rcveioO. lie tuts his own ideas uxion wealth, and does not believe i'n die millionaire, tuougli he has enjoyed opportunities of uecouiing one himself. “i don t think any country should allow millionaires to get up as taey do in America," ho remarked lo the writer. ‘Tt> is not ng.it that aiiy man should be able to knock about the political affairs of any country by tho use of his wealth. 1 prefer to spend tho whole of my income, after securing my family fuiily, in case of anything untoward happening, but I wreler to have the pleasure of spending H myself. Manv organisations in the south which have for* their object the wAd-being of the community and tho provision of rational recreation, know ike l loa. George McLean as a generous supporter. He is n strong advocate of bo*>e racing as a pure sport, for he bleeds race-hors.s at Warrington, near* Dunedin, running 1 the n for the mvo of the u?ort, without I laying a shilling in wagers. But he does not join with those- who eay thv totalisator is a terrible evil. /It profits no one except the *uads which keep up sport, but I have no sympathy with proprietary clubs," is his opinion. I THE LANE QtIESTIuN.

“The amount of >aud-a man should hold in New Zealand ought to be limited,” says the subject of this sketch in dealing with the land acted on this principle myself.” he added. “There is nuc so much goad agricultural land in this country, but in dividing it w eu must do so in a nay which will retain our credit and keep our good name.” Though he did not favour the limitation proposals propounded by tho Ward Ministry last year, the Hon. George McLean believes tho method no* brought forward, that of a graduated land tax, to be an improvement on the previous system, which he regal ded as too crude. THE WOMEN’S YOTB. He is not a believer in the franchise for women. This question has' been decided for Now Zealand, so far as voting goes, but it is- interesting still to hear the argument against it. The worst thing "which makes politics ( unstable, was Mr McLean’s opinion. Take the first occasion upon which the female vote was exercised. It was given in favour of the publicans, whovas a class voted against the extension of the franchise to women. At the next election they went with the prohibitionists. It they continue to knock things from pillar' to post ws certainly will not hud New Zealand politics too stable.