THE ORIENT LINE

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16721, 2 January 1920, Page 6

THE ORIENT LINE

CHAIRMAN ON STATE SERVICES. (By Cobl<»— Fioas A^ociatior. —CopjTitfht.) (Australian nnd N.Z. Cablo Association.) IvONIMI.V, .IX-eember HI. At the annual meeting of the Orient Steam Navigation Company, the chairman, Sir Kenneth Anderson, said that, until the future of the mail service was settled, and the Commonwealth's wishes were known, thev were reluctant to commit themselves to tho particular typo of vessel they would build. Tlio Commonwealth Government's poliev in largely developing its fleet could onlv discourage private enterprise and initiative, which, for -50 years, had provided Australia with steamer services consistently exceeding the requirements of trade, and unsurpassed in quality and chcrmiK'ss bv any other trado in tho world. If the State set itself to oppress nnd dis-.-ourage the individual trader, it must be prepared eventually to cover the whole ground. Nationalisation of industry would destroy tho British Empire, jnst as certainly as individual freedom and enterprise created it. Sir Kenneth Anderson hintod at tlio necessity of raising saloon fares, owing to tho continued increase in working expenses [At the annual meeting of tbo P. anil O. Steam Navigation Company last month, tho chairman, Lord Jnchcnpo, said tho Commonwealth Government had been "bitten" by the idea of becoming a shipowner, thus competing with private enterprise. If British shipowners hod tho Australian Government's resources against them they might end by selling their ships to the Australian Government. "Wo refcard, it," ho said, "as uncommonly hard that tha Australian Govcrnmont should borrow money to placo steamers in tho Australian trado to compcto with private enterprise. Merchants do not regard the stop favourably, realising that if the Govornmcnt enters tho shipping business it may enter other spheres of activity. Tho present njove is a direct attack on individualism and private enterprise. Merchants know that iho step is a falso one. and bound to act prejudicially to Australia, but, in tho meantimo, it may involve the whole commercial community in dislocation and loss." Lord Jnchcnpo addod that bo was satisfied that Mr Hughes was actuated by tho highest motives when ho started the Government line, but he was convinced that Mr Hughes had a wrong conception of what was good for his country. Mr Hughes would be infinitely better advised if lie left tho business to thoso in commerce and allowed people to work out their own salvation. Ho hopod thnt Mr Hnfches was satisfied with the profit mado out of tho ships, and would dispose of them, which ho could do at a considerable gain nnd cancel or assign tho contracts for tho five new shins. If ho did so ln> would follow the British Government's example in leaving commerce nnd industry to private enterprise and individual initiative. The proposal to nationalise British shipping was'now dead.]