The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1900-09-18

]
ain commercial circles b D. said that
the application ~ the American coastal
shipping law 10 Hawaii has injured the
/ interests ~ Austraiasiin shipp ng
! IN areforo u ~ felt that all those in
I terested iu the progress ~ the trading
{ relations between Australia and Ameri-
"a by way Of the Pacific should take
immediate steps to end ay0r TO have
/ the present restrictions removed o.
/ modified
! Failing the United states Govern
ment agreeing to proposal ~ this kind
I II is felt that Australia should max.
reprisals upon American shipping
Not by way Of revenge. but Just to
J let Americans see how a similar law
Will suit them. To shut the door OF
Hawaii In the face of Australia was
very unfair thing To do, especially as
Australians might, being very largely
concerned about the obviously quick y
growing trade across the Pacific to the r.
shores and to the East, have made
considerable protest to the Imperial
Government against America being al.
lowed to get Hawaii at all
However. she's got It. and she has
shut the door IN our face.
But as Hawaii occupies a most inn
portant position on the route from Aus
tralia to the United States of Amer ca
ana to Canada, we must try to get the
existing state OF things altered.
TO get slap on one side of the face
ana to turn the other is all very well
perhaps, but 1t isn't business"
SYDNEY, Aug 2.--Mr. Greed moved the
adjournment of the Council to call at
tention to the effect on the prosperity
or Australian commerce produced by the
annexation of Hawaii and the effect on
mail lines between Sydney and America.
He pointed out that the American navi-
cation laws prevented our steamers taxi
ing passengers or cargo at Honolulu
This was Il serious handicap to British
steamers travelling between Australia
and San Francisco. He nstanced the
circumstances In which the Moana will
be placed as against the Mariposa and
Alameda. In view of the American COM
pany seeking n subsidy, the whole ques-
ton demanded serious attention. Mr. SUIT
tor promised that the. Government would
bring the matter under the notice of the
British Government.
WELLINGTOE, Aug. "a letter has
been sent TO the postmaster-genera by
fifteen New Zealanders who were passen-
gers on the Moana's last trip, drawing
his attention to the manner IN which the
American shipping law is operating to
the disadvantage OF vessels sailing under
the British flag, SO far as trade between
Honolulu and San Francisco is concern
ed This law provides that no vessels
other than American shall be allowed to
carry freight and passengers between
America coastal ports. and since the en-
nexation of the Hawaiian Islands Homo
lulu ranks as a coastal port. The Moana
was the first British vessel to experience
the effects of this legislation, and was
debarred at Honolulu from taking on
board a valuable freight and numerous
passengers, many of whom were British
subjects. who thus found themselves I'M
able to travel In vessels of their own coun-
try The writer's consider that such
position IS so entirely opposed to the Brit
ish "open-door" policy as to call for spe-
cial remark, particularly In view of the
fact that a subsidy of 10000 is now being
demanded from the New Zealand Govern
ment for a service from which British
ships are to be entirely excluded.
At meeting of New Zealanders the fol-
lowing resolution was carried: THAT, In
view of the American law which prohibits
British ships from carrying passengers
and cargo between Honolulu and Ameri-
ca, the New Zealand passengers on board
the Moana wish to express their hope
that a subsidy Will not be granted to the
new American line If British ships are
to be excluded from participating In 1T"
The letter concludes by hoping that the
publication OF these. facts will help to
strengthen the hands of the Government
in their well known desire to obtain fair
treatment for the British flag.
AUCKLAND. Aug. g. The United
States Consul for New Zealand was in
telvlewed today re the boycott of British
steamers In the trade between Honolulu
and San Francisco, and the experiences
of the Union Company's steamship Moana
at Honolulu. Mr. Dillingham; explains
that the law prohibiting foreigu-owned
vessels from doing business between
American ports, no matter where situated,
has been on the Statute Books of the
United States Government for many
years, and has been strictly enforced. 1t
is n law that was enacted by the Congress
OF the United States many years ago.
and refers to passengers as well as cargo;
therefore, when the Hawaiian Islands
We're annexed to the United States and
the laws of the latter Government went
into effect, as they did on the 1ith June
last, the law also became effective at the
port of Honolulu. 1t Is "A law that can
not be amended, except by act of Con-
gress. and Congress does not meet until
December next. The American Consul
has lately frequently heard complaints
made against Mr.. j. u. Spreckels, presi-
dent of the Oceanic Steamship Company.
because he would not continue his present
contract with the Union Steamship Com
parry. Under the present law of the
United States, Mr.. Spreckels would be
unable to receive any subsidy from that
Government Were he to do so, because
the law states explicitly that the steam
ers OF his line must be Amerlcan-owned
Mr., SpfeCkels ne tNOuRnt, Is one or the
most honorable business men in San Fran
cisco, and no one would stretch point
more willingly than he TO carry out the
wishes of both Australians and New
HoalNnders. Mr. Dillingham; also saws
Mr.. SprecRels cannot do anything IN the
matter until the law is amended. because
the matter rests entirely with the Senate
and the House of Representatives of the
United States. Mr.. Spreckels stated in
n letter to Mr., Dilllngham recently that
he would visit New Zealand at an early
date, when he hoped to arrange every
thing 10 the satisfaction of the colonies.
The American Consul also thinks that II
was unjust to Mr.. SprecSels personally
II he attacked for the present state of af-
fairs IN connection with the law.
Mr. Robert l.. Greer, passenger by the
steamer Moana on Tuesday last, says he
T. connected with the National Ammonia
Company OF the United States. who have
n big factory In sydney, and has stopped
over at Auckland To visit Rotorua. lie