“MAKING DUNEDIN WEEP”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22267, 21 May 1934, Page 10

“MAKING DUNEDIN WEEP”

TO THE EDITOB. Sib — -In one of his plays Shakespeare, that wonderful analyst of human natureman and his motives—tells us about man dressed in a-little brief authority playing such fantastic tricks before high heaven as maTie the angels weep. The men who ha've arrogated to themselves the authority to speak for Dunedin in regard to the running of the Maheno on the'proposed BluffrMelbourne service are calculated to make our citizens weep—at their impudence. May Ibe permitted to reproduce from the Otago Daily Times the names of the "leading citizens" who were present at the initial meeting, called presumably by the Chamber- of Commerce, to consider what was termed the latest phase of the proposed Melbourne-South Island steamer service. Here they are: Messrs R. C. Burgess (chairman), H. C. Campbell, R. Duncan, J. J.Marlow, W. D. Lambert, D. W; M'Coy,,A: A. Paape, R. S. Black, G. Simpson, A. Smiley,, R. G. Hill, and the secretary (Mr .11. P. West). • Mr Smiley said that " the, community was behind the Chamber of Commerce anej the other bodies working with i it." I do not'believe it—the Port Chalmers community certainly is not,, at any rate. If we take the opinions expressed at the meeting of the Otago Harbour Board on Thursday night the members of; that body are also not behind the Chamber of Commerce "and other'bodies working with it." May I add that Mr H. C. Campbell (chairman of the board) cannot attend a meeting like this and criticise.the Union Steam Ship Company, as the chairman of the Importers "and Shippers' Association, and watch the'business of the Harbour Board from another ■ angle.. You cannot serve two masters. .Mr Duncan stirred the meeting referred to by saying that "they must take thejjoves off with the Union Company," Well, Sir, here we have the Union Company agreeing to put the Maheno on the Bluff-Melbourne run, and we have men like Mr" Duncan and others—claiming to speak: on behalf of the community—telling the company that if it is going to put op the Maheno they, do not want any service, at- all. It is' really astounding. So many harsh things have now been: broadcast: about the Maheno that: these " leading . citizens " have also assisted to murder the service, if the company now goes on with it. Who will want to travel in such a vessc l ? There are,'however, some men of sense in Dunedin, and they say—and they say rightly—" Let us take the Maheno;. let us take,the opportunity of travelling in her; let lis use every means to provide cargo for her from the South Island, and then the Union Company will see what fine possibilities there are in a resuscitation of this service." '■*■■' Moreover, I cannot believe, and-I do not believe, that the directors of the Union Steam Ship Company!are placing the Maheno on this run with the deliberate intention of wrecking the service, so that the company can continue to concentrate on the service -with. Australia from Wellington- and Auckland. 1 cannot believe, and I do not believe, that Sir John Roberts, and Messrs J. R. Ritchie and C. W. Rattray, directors/of the company, who have spent their lifetimes in Dunedin, would, agree tosuch a nefarious scheme. Anyway, even if there were truth in this allegation, let Mr Paape, Mr Stilling, and the, other members of their Australian Association, lead a campaign to force the hands of the Union Company, Let them use their; influence to foster the carriage of cargo on the Maheno, and then the not be able to turn round and say it was not prepared to continue to carry on the service at a loss. I do not suppose that Mr Paape, Mr Duncan, or the other leading citizens. mentioned above would run their respective businesses at a loss. Half a loaf is better than no bread, and if the people of Dunedin are prepared to do something,-instead of telling other people what they ought to do, the half-loaf could be made into a full loaf. The rejection of the offer of the Maheno by certain individuals who claim to speak on behalf of the community (!) is, to my mind; one of the gravest illegal assumptions of authority which have ever been thrust on the city of Dunedin. Probably the Union Company will know, however, how much weight the leaders of the agitation against the Maheno pull in Dunedin. If all these croakers; are honest about wanting to see a steamer service with Melbourne, let them stop talking and do. something which is calculated to get us somewhere. Moreover, may I ask if the Chamber of Commerce is concerned primarily with the interests of the city of Dunedin or with the interests of its own particular members? I could answer the question, but I leave it to Mr Burgess to do so. My point is, if the question is answered truly, what right has the chamber to speak on behalf of the citizens of Dunedin? —I am, etc., Get on With the Job.