JOINT COMMITTEE ON DIRECT STEAM SERVICE (REPORT OF THE), TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1883 Session I, I-10

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1883. NEW ZEALAND.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON DIRECT STEAM SERVICE (REPORT OF THE), TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS.

Beport brought up 15th August, 1883, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the Legislative Council. Thursday, the 9th day op August, 1883. Ordered, " That a Select Committeo be appointed to whom should bo referred the papers presented to this Council on the subject of the direct steam service with Great Britain, with power to confer with any Committee appointed for a similar purpose by the House of Representatives, and to report with as little delay as possible. The Committee to consist of the Hon. Mr. Acland, the Hon. Mr. Holmes, the Hon. Mr. Hart, the Hon. Mr. G. R. Johnson, the Hon. Mr. Menzies, the Hon. Mr. Miller, the Hon. Mr. J. C. Richmond, the Hon. Mr. Robinson, the Hon. Mr. Williamson, and the mover." — (Hon. Dr. Pollen.)

Extracts from the Journals of the House of Bepresentatives. Tuesday, the 7th day of August, 1883. Ordered, " That the question of the arrangement made, subject to the approval of Parliament, between the Government and the New Zealand Shipping Company, for the conveyance of immigrants and freight from Great Britain to New Zealand, as set forth in the correspondence laid before this House on the Ist August, be referred to a Select Committee to consider the whole question and report as soon as possible, with power to confer with any similar Committee of the Legislative Council." — (Mr. Driver.)

Thursday, the 9th day of August, 1883. Ordered, "That a Select Committee be appointed on terms of a resolution passed on the 7th August to consider proposals for a direct steam service between Great Britain and New Zealand, with power to call for persons and papers ; four to form a quorum; to report within one week. The Committee to consist of the Hon. Mr. Rolleston, Hon. Mr. W. W. Johnston, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Sutton, Mr. W. C. Buchanan, Mr. Swanson, Mr. George, and the mover." — (Mr. Driver.)

KEPOKT. The Joint Committee to whom was referred the consideration of the proposals for a direct steam service between Great Britain and New Zealand have the honour to report that they have adopted the following resolutions :— 1. That no contract for a direct steam service should be entered into before the next session of the General Assembly. 2. That in the meantime the Government should make such arrangements, consistent with efficiency, as will be least burdensome on the public revenue. 3. That in making such arrangements due regard should be paid to the claim which the New Zealand Shipping Company, by its enterprise, has upon the colony. 4. That, having regard to the safety and comfort of passengers, the Government should give the preference to unsinkable ships. 5. That the Bluff should be included in the ports of arrival and departure, which shall be optionaMor steamers under arrangements with the Government. Daniel Pollen, 15th August, 1883. Chairman.

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Monday, 13th August, 1883. The Joint Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Legislative Council —Hon. Dr. Pollen (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Acland, Hon. Mr. Hart, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Miller, Hon. Mr. J. C. Eichmond, Hon. Mr. Eobinson, Hon. Mr. Williams. House of Eepresentatives—Mr. Driver, Mr. George, Hon. Mr. W. W. Johnston, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Macandrew, Mr. Montgomery, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Swanson. On the motion of Mr. Driver, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Besolved, That Dr. Pollen ■do take the chair. On the motion of Mr. Joyce, Besolved, That the Government be requested to lay before this Committee the particulars and conditions of contract, as between the Government and the New Zealand Shipping Company, now awaiting ratification or rejection. The Hon. Mr. Holmes moved, That no contract for a direct steam service be entered into before the next session of the General Assembly, and that in the meantime the Agent-General be directed to make the best arrangement he can for the conveyance of Government freight and immigrants. Besolved, That the Hon. Mr. Holmes be allowed to withdraw from his motion all the words after the word " Assembly." Besolved, That the motion as amended be agreed to. Mr. Macandrew moved, That in the meantime the Government be requested to direct the AgentGeneral to make the best arrangement he can for the conveyance of Government immigrants and freight, and that he be further directed to give due consideration to the claim upon the colony of the New Zealand Shipping Company in respect of its enterprise in connection with direct steam. Mr. Swanson moved, That in the meantime the Government be instructed to make such terms, •consistent with efficiency, as will be least burdensome on the public revenue. The Committee then adjourned until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the 15th August, 1883.

Wednesday, 15th August, 1883. The Joint Committee met pursuant to notice. Present: Legislative Council—Hon. Dr. Pollen (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Hart, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson, Hon. Mr. Menzies, Hon. Mr. Miller, Hon. Mr. J. C. Eichmond, Hon. Mr- Eobinson, Hon. Mr. Williamson. House of Eeprcsentatives—Mr. W. C. Buchanan, Mr. Driver. Mr. George, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Macandrew, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sutton, Mr. Swanson. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Besolved, That Mr. Macandrew be allowed to withdraw his motion. Mr. Swanson again moved, That in the meantime the Government be instructed to make such terms, consistent with efficiency, as will be least burdensome on the public revenue. Mr. Macandrew moved, as an amendment, That all the words after the word "That," in the original motion, be struck out, for the purpose of inserting the following in lieu thereof: " this Committee is of opinion that it is inexpedient to enter into any steam contract until the next session of the General Assembly, and that in the meantime the Agent-General should be directed to make the best arrangements he can for the conveyance of Government immigrants and cargo, at such rates as the Government may approve; and, further, that in making such arrangements due regard should be paid to the claim which the New Zealand Shipping Company, by its enterprise, has upon the colony. And the question being put, " That the words proposed to be struck out stand part of the question," a division took place and the names were taken down as follows : — Ayes, 10.—Mr. Driver, Mr. George, Hon. Mr. Holmes, Mr. Joyce, Hon. Mr. J. C. Eichmond, Hon. Mr. Eobinson, Hon. Mr. Eolleston, Mr. Sutton, Mr. Swanson, Hon. Mr. Williamson. Noes, 5. —Mr. W. C. Buchanan, Hon. Mr. Hart, Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson, Mr. Macandrew, Hon. Mr. Miller. So it was resolved in the affirmative. And the original question being put, it was resolved in the affirmative. On the motion of Mr. Sutton, Besolved, That in making such arrangements due regard should be paid to the claim which the New Zealand Shipping Company, by its enterprise, has upon the •colony. Mr. Macandrew moved, That, having regard to the safety and comfort of passengers.the Government be requested (all other things being equal) to give the preference to unsinkable ships. And, the question being put,la division took place and the names were taken down as follows :— Ayes, 7.—Mr. W. C. Buchanan, Mr. Driver, Mr. George, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Macandrew, Hon. Mr. Menzies, and Hon. Mr. J. C. Eichmond.

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Noes, 5. —Hon. Mr. G. E. Johnson, Hon. Mr. Miller, Mr. Sutton, Mr. Swanson, and Hon. Mr. Williamson. So it was resolved in the affirmative. Resolved, That Mr. Joyce be allowed to read the following telegram sent to him by the Chamber of Commerce, Invercargill: "The following was resolved in the Chamber this day: That, in any arrangement for direct steam service with Great Britain, the claims of the Bluff being made a port of call should be urged for the following reasons : (1) That the distance is one day's steam shorter than Lyttelton or Wellington; (2) that the approach from the westward is well lit up, and from the eastward soon equally so; (3) entrance channel has no turns which largest steamer could not navigate with its own steam; (4) not less than 24 feet low water and 30 feet high water from sea to wharf; (5) largest steamer could anchor a quarter of a mile from the wharf with 30 feet of water at low tide; (6) wharf accommodation easily provided, with 26 feet low water; (7) with the harbour well lit a steamer could enter at all ordinary times; (8) a better harbour than that of Point de Galle; (9) there is neither sea nor swell which could affect large steamers; (10) extensive coal deposits are being worked, with a railway from mine to port; (11) the grain production of Southland has now reached a proportion which will make this freight an object to steamers; (12) the sheep for refrigeration and export from Southland, Lake, and Wallace Counties, reckoned at 37,000 this year; (13) the expedition through steamers would largely increase the quantity of wool shipment at the Bluff; (14) only fair to Southland to make provisions for preparation for immigrants by direct steamer landing them at the Bluff; (15) conveyance of general passengers inwards or outwards is best served by calling at the Bluff both ways." On the motion of Mr. Joyce, Resolved, That the Bluff shall be included in the ports of arrival and departure which shall be optional for steamers under arrangements with the Government. Resolved, That the Chairman be directed to report the foregoing resolutions to the House. The Committee then adjourned.

Authority : Gbobge Didsbury, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBB3.

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