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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 60

Steamship Subsidies

Steamship Subsidies.

The proposed renewal by the Government of the San Francisco Mail Service, was discussed at a meeting of the Chamber held on the 28th ult., and a resolution was carried affirming the desirability of maintaining it. page 13 The opinion however was very generally expressed, that efforts should be made to obtain a faster service if a subsidy for as much as £30,000 is to be continued. It will be observed that the Government have now invited tenders for an eighteen-day service.

A new service has been initiated to the South Sea Islands, and it is earnestly hoped that it will realise the results claimed for it. The reports published since the return of the "Janet Nicoll" are, however, scarcely so encouraging as could have been desired. It appears that the exports and imports of the Friendly Islands for 1883 were £95,000 and £105,000 respectively. The trade returns for Samoa are stated to be £71,147 for exports, and £69,928 for imports, which are slightly in excess of the figures quoted by the London Chamber of Commerce. The exports and imports of the "Society Group" are given by the delegates as £177,372 and £151,031 respectively; and for the "Harvey Group," £28,000 exports and £24,000 imports. It will thus be seen that the volume of the trade of the groups of islands within the scope of the new service is comparatively small. It also appears that the bulk of the imports consists of manufactures that cannot be produced in New Zealand. There is a moderate market for the food products of this Colony, but our past experience has shown that New Zealand flour is not in favour. Your Committee hope however that full advantage will be taken of the service to open up such business as may be practicable.

A movement has been made in the direction of recommending a subsidy for a direct line of steamers to trade between New Zealand and Queensland, and your Committee consider that such a service would shortly open up an excellent market for most of our farm and dairy products, as Queensland imports largely of breadstuffs, potatoes, dairy produce, &c. It is pleasing to notice that the Union Steamship Company have, as an experiment, decided to place the s.s. "Taupo" at the disposal of shippers for the Fort of Brisbane; but it can be well understood that it will take some little time to firmly establish a profitable trade, and while this is being effected, it is feared that sufficient cargo will not be forthcoming to warrant the Company repeating the experiment. In view of the large benefits to be derived from a direct trade with so important a Colony as Queensland, it is to be hoped the Legislature will see the wisdom of granting a small subsidy, as it cannot be reasonably expected that a private company will be prepared to bear the loss incidental to the initiation of this trade. As showing the importance of Queensland, it may be mentioned that in 1883 her imports wore £6,233,351, and her exports £5,276,608, and when it is remembered that her climate is unsuitable for producing wheat, oats, potatoes, butter, cheese, hams, bacon, &c., it will be at once seen that that Colony is capable of absorbing a large quantity of many of our surplus food stuffs, while in exchange she can send us sugar and many other tropical products.