THE SAN FRANCJSCO ROUTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7296, 8 January 1902, Page 2

THE SAN FRANCJSCO ROUTE.

The Oceanic Steaanship Company, having induced the New Zealand .Government to make terms witji it for the carriage of this colony's mails tb San Francisco, has turned its attention to the task oi exploiting the Australian^ Commonwealth. , - It' has submitted certain proposals', to the Federal Government, and the iatter is now considering them. These proposals are interesting to New Zealanders, for. the reason that they show how ready the Company . is to sacrifice this colony in its efforts to expand its operations. It advances, in the most off-hand and airy manner, a project which will necessitate the time occupied on the voyage between San Francisco and Auckland being increased by a couple of days. Ii admits that this would mean a day or two longer in delivering the New Zealand . mails, but it offers, by way of compensation, the attraction of a fortnightly service instead of the three-weekly one, for which the present contraot provides. Of course, these are merely suggestions, and they have not been so much as laid before the New Zealand Government yet. But they are significant, as showing Mr Spr-eckels's attitude in his present venture. Summed up -briefly, this attitude amounts to a desire to get as nmch as possible out of New Zealand, and give as little as possible in return. That is not a very immoral principle on which to act, we fancy we hear ouir business friends retorting, and we are bound to adroit that it is the principle which underlies nearly all commercial transactions. But if that is Mr Spreokels's atfci- • tude, the astute American must not be surprised if it is the attitude of New Zealand also. Two cam play at one game, and if New Zealand sees, or fancies she sees, Mr Spreckels preparing, to further his interests at her. expense, she will be quite within her rights to retaliate. Mr Spreckels's latest move is another proof of the necessity of New ZeaOand having an alternative mall route to fall back upon, and the Post-master-General will be well advised if he keeps the possibility of such a scheme steadily in view. j