The N.Z. Times THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1907. THE UNION COMPANY AND WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6384, 5 December 1907, Page 4

The N.Z. Times

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1907. THE UNION COMPANY AND WELLINGTON.

WTtia WHICH 18 INCOP.POKAT2S THE “ WZLUBOKIII JKDBPIWD2NT.” ESTABLISHED 184 f.

What was on Monday no more than an interesting rumour with regard to the acquisition by the Union Steam Ship Company of the control of the patent slip has now proved to be a fact, and wc have only to again congratulate the city upon the improved prospect that the company’s headcpiarters may before long be removed from Uunodin to Wellington. It might bo regretted that the Harbour Board j d d not seize the opportunity which presented itself some months ago of acquiring the 'tlip as a complement to tho dock which is now under construction, but any remorse on that head is quite dissipated by the great advantages which the acquisition by tho Union Company will bring to the port. Moreover, the Harbour ißoard must be assumed by its action to have had little desire to purchase tho property. Its engineer, whoso policy has been tho means of placing Wellington in the front rank amongst the ports of the southern hemisphere, recommended the acquisition of the slip, and for some time the Board practically held j and dallied with the option, so it is idle to express regrets that a private company has now stepped in and secured the slip. Now that tho members of the Board have recovered from the first shock caused by our announcement of the purchase, we have no doubt they will understand what is their duty to the city and the peert in an unexpected emergency, and that a feeling of chagrin will not be allowed to warp their judgment in the matter. The transaction presents a great opportunity to the Board to secure the headquarters of the Union Company for this port. If the company is met generously, and is given reasonable facilities for establishing repairing-yards at the head of Ewans Bay, there can be no doubt that the ultimate rer suit, and in tho not distant future, will he tho transference of the headquarters from Dunedin to this city. The advantages of such an event to almost every interest in the city and province are so obvious as scarcely to require elaboration. The Harbour Board would directly benefit by the diversion of a very large amount of business from the docks of Lyttelton and Port Chalmers to the new one at Clyde Quay. The engineering trade would receive that encouragement which it has been sadly in need of during the past few decades, and employment would be given to a great number of people. So far only a single argument has been brought against tho move that has been effected, namely, that it throws the small craft at the mercy pf the Union Steam Ship Company. If we believed this to be the case we could not congratulate the city on the event, because tile “mosquito” fleet is essential to the welfare of tho port and the district.'; But wo do hot think for a moment that the Up on Company will utilise its new property as a means of coercing the smaller craft. In the first place, the patent slip in Evans Bay is not tho only establishment where they can carry out their overhauls: at the present time a considerable number go to Nelson, Lyttelton, and elsewhere. Moreover, should there be any tendency on the part of the Union Company to unduly hamper the smaller shipping companies in respect to overhauling their steamers, it will be the plain duty of the Board to build another slip and operate it for the benefit of nil the smaller craft. Even should this course be necessary, the cost to the Board wonld probably be less than the acquisition of the present slip. As things appear at present, there can bo no doubt that the advantages' of inducing the Union - Company to make its headquarters in Port Nicholson far outweigh any disabilities tliat might arise from the slip being iu a private company’s hands, and tho Harbour Board will be sadly lacking in its duty if it places unnecessary obstacles in the way of the Union oompan3 -J s project to establish its repairing yards at Evans Bay. By helping tho company to remove its headquarters to Wellington it doss not in any degree surrender its powers iu the way of preventing monopolies and protecting the small shipowners.