ANGRY MOXON, 1913

Western Mail, 9 May, 1913

STATE STEAMERS.

STATEMENT BY MR. MOXON.

When spoken to by a "West Australian" 

representative with regard to the State 

steamers on Saturday, Mr. W. E. Moxon, 

the manager of the Adelaide Steamship 

Co.'s affairs in this State, could only be 

induced to discuss the subject on caution

that the political side of it was not referred

to, but he had some remarks to make in

so far as the commercial aspect was 

concerned. He stated, that when his company

lost the North-West coastal contracts, which 

were secured by the State service, it immediately 

withdrew its steamer from the North-West trade. 

He had at the time explained that the North-West 

trade was unprofitable before the s.s. Western 

Australia (State service 'flagship')entered into it, 

and therefore, as the s.s. Allinga could not be 

run at a profit, she was withdrawn, and she was 

now profitably employed elsewhere. The company 

also had the s.s. Junee running under charter last 

year on the coast, but more lucrative employment 

being available elsewhere also was transferred. 

As the introduction of the Government steamers 

took away considerable of the earnings formerly 

enjoyed by steamers which took cargo northwards

and stock southwards at the low rates on stock 

which obtains for coastwise vessels could only be 

quoted when there was sufficient up freight as well 

as down freight to make the round voyage possible, 

and as there was not sufficient up trade now to

warrant it, obviously tonnage had had to be withdrawn. 

This was entirely the business aspect. His company 

looked upon the State steamers and any other shipping 

venture that attempted to force itself into trade from an 

entirely business point of view. His long experience in 

the North West trade warranted him in emphatically

stating that the coast did not provide sufficient revenue 

to warrant the introduction of a third competitor, and the 

result must necessarily be that the introduction of boats

of the Koombana type or any improvement of the existing 

type of ship working the coast would be impossible under 

pit snit conditions. So far from there being felt any rancorous 

feeling or of placing his company against the Government, 

Mr. Moxon said that the company did business with the

State service for a part of its requirements, and it had not 

any fault to find in connection with its dealings. The writer 

of a letter on the subject of State steamers, which was 

published in last Friday's issue of the "West Australian,"

asked : "Is it not surprising that as shipping companies 

keep an account of every trip as it is completed, and 

prepare earnings notes. There should be such murky 

obscurity regarding results, which should be apparent 

trip by trip? Call for the trip accounts, general public, 

and only take the figures from the Auditor-General?" 

The attention of Mr. Moxon was drawn to this. He said 

that each question should surely not be necessary, for 

if entirely separate trip accounts were not kept the 

manager could have no indication as to how a particular 

venture had turned out, and he could not adjust his rates 

for future ventures, or similarly make a reduction in the 

event of competition, if he had sufficient margin to do so. 

The general manager of every shipping company was 

aware how each one of the ships was doing trip by trip, 

and there should not be any difficulty in preparing such 

a statement as that asked for. In conclusion, Mr. Moxon 

remarked : "I do not want on any account the suggestion 

to be made that my company is girding at the fact that it 

lost the Ñorth-West and South-East mail contracts, as 

every ton of shipping belonging to us is busily employed,

and it is perfectly true that, except under profitable conditions, 

any company is far better without a mail contract, as the latter 

carries heavy responsibilities. The contractors are liable to a 

fine of £5 per hour if the mail steamer should run late and a 

satisfactory explanation is not given."

A scathing, angry attack on the 'blundering' State Shipping Service. Was this the truth of the matter or was their incompetence exaggerated? We shall see,...

courtesy Trove.