MR JAMES MILLS AND THE UNION COMPANY.

Otago Daily Times, 27 April 1906, Page 4 (Supplement)

MR JAMES MILLS AND THE UNION COMPANY.

«. PROGRESS AND PLANS OF THE COMPANY. WELLINGTON, April 12. Two years ago at a very pleasant function hero Mr James Mills was admitted to a life membership of the Institute of Marino Engineers. To-day the Marino Engineers and their friends, including a largo number of representative citizens, met. for tho purpose of entertaining Mr Mills at luncheon, and wishing him bon voyage to England. Tho Right. Hon. tho Premier presided, and the proceedings were marked by the utmost, cordiality. Messages conveying good wishes were received from a large number of tho crews in the fleet of the Union Company and other companies trading to New Zealand, and tho letters of apology from many leading citizens in various parts of the colony, who were unable to attend, breathed a spirit of goodwill and good wishes, showing the very high estimation in which Mr Mills is held by the community at. large. Mr Seddon, in the course of an appropriate speech, said it was well that, the send-off should be from Wellington, because, none of Wellington's sons stood higher to-day than Mr James Mills.—(Applause.) When ho was a member of Parliament lie gained tho respect of both parties, but ho 'believed that Mr Mills had done mcro for the colony as managing director of the Union Company than he would have been ablo to do if ho had been Premier of the colony —(Laughter and applause.) Mr Seddon went to to trace tho history of the company since its start in 1875. when it. took over the vessels of the Harbour Steam Company of Dunedin, the total tonnage of the five steamers taken over being 3262. From that date the record of tho company had been one of steady progress, and they might, tako the progress of the company as emblematic of the progress of the colony. He again said that in this respect the colony was greatly indebted to the company, which had always kept pace with and sometimes been in advance of our requirements. He gratefully acknowledged tho colony's indebtedness in that respect. Thirty-otic years ago the mileaso covered by the company's vessels was .170.000 miles. Last, year (hey covered 2.000.000 miles, and it spoke volumes for tho officers, engineers, and crews that them had 'been little loss of life and property. —(Applause.) The managing head of such a largo concern had a grave responsibility cast upon him. Had things gono wrong the Maine would have fallen upon him, and it was only right, therefore, that they should show their appreciation of the fact that matters had gone on so successfully.— (Applause.) Continuing, Mr Seddon said this gathering of engineers was a great tribute to Mr Mills, arid no one would contradict him when he said that Mr Mills stood very high in their goodwill and confidence. He trusted that'might long continue.—(Applause.) Mr Mills was, perhaps, not free from anxiety on one point, but he hoped the day was not far distant when the same good feeling would exist with tho seamen. Mr Mills could do a great ileal to assist in once more getting the .Vancouver service back to the colony. It would bo a neighbourly and kindly action if Australia would move in the directnn of getting the Vancouver steamers to call at our colony. He hoped Mr Mills would iell the Canadian authorities that if would be to the interest of Canada if those vessels called here. Canada would, he believed, take the foremost part in the Exhibition, but unless the Vancouver boats called Jnre Canada would not. reap the full benefit from its exhibit. There would be a tremendous passenger traffic between Australia and New Zealand during the Exhibition, and he hoped that Air Mills iiad arranged for this increased traffic.- Ho had not seen as yet, he added, any advertisement from the company, offering the cheap freights that another company wa6 offering. Mr Mills would bo out of tho ware and would bo able to look on complacently.— (Applause.) In conclusion. Mr Seddon'said it would not surprise him to find that there would be more steamers for New Zealand as a result of Mr Mills's visit to the Old Country. Mr Mills, on rising to reply, was received With a further outburst of cheering. Having returned thanks for the warmth of the reception accorded him, and the manner- in which the Premier had proposed his health, he said the company had always appreciated the very loyal service given by the engineers at all times, and had always been ready to reoiprocato tho good feeling exhibited by them. He referred to ' the early history of the company,' comparing the first vessels with tho steamers now running, and gave an interesting comparison between the fares of those early days and the fares at present— £16 from Auckland to Otago, for instance. There had also been enormous increases in the tonnage,' which he hoped would continue. The rate of progression had been much more substantial during the past 15 years, probably owing to the administration of the colony during that period. The gross -•>nMnl«vonn"diturcof theMrttiafty now was

£1,223,000. The coal consumed was 300.000 lons. The wages afloat had increased ilrom £10,000 (in 1576) a year to £216,000 a year. The company had owned 54- steamers, of an aggregate tonnage of 109.000, which did not include a steamer of 3900 tons now building. With regard to the 'future, it wae. part of his mission to arrange, for the building of new steamers, one, a turbine steamer, to trade between Wellington and Lyttelton—a step that had been taken after the experience gained nf that class nf steamer.—(Applause.) That steamer would replace the old Rotomaliana, and would be of about 3000 tons, with a working speed of 18 knots. Mr Campbell, marine architect, had gone Home in tli© Rnnpehu, and would moot him there on arrival, 'file directors, it would be wen, had every confidence in the future of the company, and were anxious to provide for future rcquhrmentfl. They desired to see the Vancouver service steamers again calling at New ZcaJand, and he thought that next year it was very probable that a change would be secured — (Applause.) As to the relations between the company and the seamen, he thought it was a pity that an agitation had lwen started. Probably it was only on the part of a few. They already enjoyed the same wages as prevailed throughout Australia, together with other advantages, and he lwlicvcd that the difficulty would soon be righted. As to cheap freights, the Premier lad forgotten that the company's freights were always low, and there was no room for reduction. Why, they even carried State coal at 5s per ton.—(Laughter.) In conclusion, he again thanked the Premier and those present for the goodwill exhibited towards the company.—(Applause.) April 13. Mr James Hills, at the luncheon given to him here, gave the following figures, showing the company's grass annual ex-penditure:-In 1885. ' £476,605: in 1895, £707.652; in 1905, £1.223,557. The mileage run per annum was—ln 1876, ran 171,000 miles; in 1885. ran 859.120: in 1895. ran 1,830,800: in 1905, ran 2,007.800. The annual coal consumption in 1885 was 96.651 tons; in 1895. 191,416; in 1905. 300.600. The wages afloat, which totalled £10,000 in 1876, wore £216,956 in 1905.