The Hawaiian gazette., 1871-12-06
The steamship subsidy.

The Steamship subsidy.
Nh EDrron--I am unused 70 addressing the
pabEc in any manner but the proposition. which
4 1 see BY your paper was entertained by the Min
listers and by them placed before the Priyy Coun-
I ell. to paw to Mr.. Webb the sum OF money placed
at the disposal Of the Government by the last
Legislature for the purpose OF establishing a
steam line between here. Australia and New Yea
land, seems to me worthy 81 reflection Perhaps
I an wrong in addressing my communication 10
your paper when Ministers are supporting the
proposition but I have that confidence in them
10 bclicre that they want the candid expression
Of .bc views Of any one really solicitous to do
good and not DESTROYS OF finding fault; and
would. myself. be very much pleased 10 see wheth-
er the obiec ions which have arisen in my mind
+ against paying this money. may or mag not be
answered, OF reasons given Tor the paymeat which
VIII overcome my objections to paying it.
4 Ia the first place. the sum that it Is proposed
. to pay to Nr. Webb is very large one for this
people and on referring to the item in the appro-
p7iaiion bill giving the authority for paying it,
observe that the sum is to be raised by loan.
Now 1t can scarcely be proposed TO continue TO
raise such suns in future years by loans mas
much as this woald he deliberately 10 run into
debt, year by year. for al object the material re
turus for which are not Obvioas when compared
with those which Ike sums Of money woald re-
turn when devoted TO permanent structures and
Improvements within our own boundaries. And
It seems 10 me- therefore. As If paying out 50 large
sum Of money woulG materially cripple our re-
sources more particularly If 1t Is to be continued
which haze Said / did not suppose to be con-
ismpl=;ed. No one doabis the necessity OF keep
ing Up our iuterislald communication by steam,
and the Successful and profitable trips of the XII
laues, aud the Inconvenience resulting from her
occasional disasters. would seen to point to the
re2sonableness Of extending and strengthening
that service. The necessity Of extending the
wharYes Is they are at present being extended Is
undOub;ed The adyisability Of putting the pub
lie Offices IN buildings belonging to the public
not hired as they are at preseat-mOre safe and
worthy Of the pablic service, is apparent to all
These, and many other things which I might
mention. must cost money and add very materially
to the public debt. Now, there are not ! few,
Mr.. Editor who have Z well grounded objection
to mourning any debt At all The objects which
l have mentioned are real and tangible property
property which represents in value the money
which has been, o, val have been expended for
them. Bat can the saiae be said Of the subsidies
paid to foreign ships
Il Is true that We are interested in the travers-
ing Of the ocean BY the means Of steam. and no
one viii more fully admit the importance Of it .
than the Eriter Of this. Bat on the presumption
that TIE sum BOw on the appropriation bill Will
not be voted from year to yeac. but Is sum now
to be paid once and forever. 1t is obvious that the
sum thus TO be paid will not secure to rs the stop
ping Of those ships unless orr position 10 the
ocean is Of paramount consideration; and If our
position is Of such consideration that it would
become the interest Of any steamship line running
the route 10 stop for the business which is added
TO them BY Us. where IS the necessity Of our pay
ing this sum Of money.
Nor can 1t be said thai; this community IS not I
doing wba, they can to foster the business. II
they build Nharres At large expense and give the .
use Of them; fll up land a; large expense and .
give the use Of il FOR siorsse; build costly ho-
tel without the hope Of receiving anything like ,
in the nature Of rent 10 say nothing
# other small privileges bat considerable in the
which may be gr4n,ed, certainly this .
small community VIII have done lis share in pro
portion 10 its SIZE.
Again Certainly. New Zealand is making
most strenuous effort to support the line, ard
he if she stood alone. and the service should be
Ound to be Of material benefit to Us, would de-
nand our sympathy and cooperation to the ex-
eui OF cur means And. inasmuch as the United
States already pay $4,000 year FOR the purpose
4 maintaining steam communication between
san francisco and here. should the Legislature
4 that country manifest desire to continue the
service to Australia and New Zealand by afford
NJ material aid. then it might appear reasonable
bat We should assist To tie extent OF our means.
But submit that 50 long IS The United States
Ices BOT ard IL carrying forward the line, and the
Australian Governments take such action as
so1ii appear intended to hi0der rather than
aciia;e this BUSINESS - action under which il
5 improbable tia. any business should be done
Ices i not become vary questionable shelter
HIS Mejestyis Government are Justified, from
BUSINESS point Of FieE. IN nearing this added
ability. INcUIEER-