The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1871-12-20
The Steamship Subsidy.

AS our readers must take great inter-
est in the subject of the Steamship Line
to New Zealand and Australia, we give
below the report of the action of the Leg
islature of New Zealand regarding the
subsidy proposed to be given by that
colony to the Webb Line.
"FmDAY Nov. 3RD.-Mr yogel moved his
San Francisco service resolution in a speech of
nearly two hours duration. He reviewed at
length the circumstances which led to the pres
emit contract, which he maintained was in surpris-
ing fidelity to the resolutions passed by the House
last session. he thought it probable that Con-
gress during its next session would vote sub
sidy to the line. He denied that the Govern
ment had had any intention to show discourtesy
to Australia in the course they had adopted
New Zealand however would always have to
maintain the chief proportion of the cost of the
San Francisco service, and should, therefore, have
the Service underits own control The more con-
fdence the House reposed in the Government,
the more likely would the latter be to make an
arrangement beneficial to the Colony. 1t would
be quite impossible to organize an effective ser
vice if the contract were limited to three years
The Government we're pledged to use their best
exertions to have the contract ratified for the full
term of ten years. The contractors were anxious
to obtain modification of the con tract, but to
enable the Government to have the understand
ing it ought in the negotiations, it was necessary
that it should be able to bind them for ten years
He did not know why the Colony had not been
asked to join in the late Intercolonial Conference
If New South Wales had taken offence, it must
be the offence of those who know they have COM
mitted a wrong. 1t was very improbable that
any service would be arranged on the basis pro-
posed by the Conference, aud fortnightly altern-
ate services to more than one port would be i'm
possible, as the period between the mails would
differ at each port. He believed that in future
Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia would
really have to support the Suez service that
New South Wales and Queensland would arrange
for Torres Strait service and New Zealand for
an American route with assistance from New
CNAtu " atSo NLu ' tINttta- IL We kept On lut
service, the Australian Colonies would soon see
it to be their interest to join and bear fair share
Of the cost. He believed that New Zealand
should continue to have the main line, but was
willing to negotiate to allow Australia to estab-
fish branch line to the Navigator Islands, if it
liked. He commented at length on the proceed
ings of the late Conference. and on the advanta-
ges of encouraging intimate relations with Ame-
rca expressing it as his opinion that the present
contract would be almost certain to lead to the
remission of the duty on wool in the United
States He pointed out how the line would pro-
mote the development of our coal fields, and ex-
pressed the opinion that it could not by any
chance lead to any result other than economy.
he had already given notice to the contractors
that they must resume the coastal service after