The Dominion. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1916. THE LACK OF SHIPS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2698, 18 February 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1916. THE LACK OF SHIPS

The shipping problem is just now receiving very serious attention in Britain. The amount of tonnage available for commercial purposes is not nearly equal to the trade requirements of the nation, and a very difficult situation has been created.. Some critics assert that the trouble is largely due to the failure of tho Government to thoroughly organise the mercantile marine, 'fhe lack of ships is causing great loss and inconvenience, and fears are expressed that Britain's position as the greatest ship-producing country in the world may be endangered. Some neutral countries, which have hitherto relied on British ships for the carriage of their goods, are beginning to build their own vessels, and British shipping may not easily regain the position it'held before the beginning of the war. Tfye British consumer is now compelled to pay an extremely high price for his freight'serviccs, while the shipowner is losing the higli freights which neutrals arc prepared to pay.. One authority states that so many merchant vessels have been requisitioned for use as armed cruisers, transports. or hospital ships, or for conveying stores to fleets and armies, that the total amount- of British shipping in Government service cannot fall far short of the t-ot-al of the whole of the German mercantile marine before the war. The inevitable consequence of this is a- serious dislocation of the ocean carrying trade the effects of which are being felt throughout the whole Empire ■ Jho difficulty of sending their produce to England has been a constant source of anxiety to- the farmers of New Zealand. It has proved one of the most troublesome war problems that our Government has had to deal with. Canada, Austrabouth'Africa, and India are experiencing the samp lack of shipping facilities; but Britain is the chief Butrerer. It is of the utmost importance that her export trade should be maintained at the highest possible point, a.nd yet great opportunities are being lost by merchants and maniuactiu-ers simply because there arc not sufficient vessels to carry -their wares to the people in other countries who want to buy theni. In view of the undoubted fact that the supply of tonnage is tar short of the requirements o'f the Umpire s commerce, it is not surprising that the British Government is beiyg callccl upon to show that its management of the great fleet o'f merchantmen which it has taken under its control is efficient; The winning of the war must be the first and supreme consideration: but every care should be taken to safeguard as far as possible the comLvciything that organisation and foresight can do .to prevent waste of tonnage should be done. Britain cannot afford to throw away trade a-t a time like tho present, and she cannot shut her eyes to tho great shipbuilding activity which prevails in neutral countries. ofW rfcant discussion on the effect of the war on shipping recently took place in the House of Commons. Mr. s. Samuel, the Unionist mem-bar for Wandsworth, coi-tended that if the Government 1 i cn clrasfcic measures to supply the necessary labour to clear the j congestion which existed at the | ports it would have relieved the tonnago m use by a half or two-thirds A Labour member blamed the Board of Irade for permitting the sale of tonnago to neutral Powers at hic?h prices. Another speaker thought the Government should appoint a Board ot Control composed of shipowners ana representatives of the Admiralty and the Board of Trade. Mii. Hewins, the well-known economist, stated that there was a feeling in commercial circles that more weight should be given to the views of those who understood the business of snipowmng and management. These opinions give an indication of the nature of the defects of the present method of control and how they might possibly be remedied. Me. Bau-our m his reply summed up the whole position in a sentence. "The rea. cause of the rise in freights," lie said, has been the limitation of tonnage available for cavrying commodities, and no redistribution of Government Departments would put the matter right unless that redistribution economised the tonnage f is being used." The critics contend that by more thorough and cflicient organisation a considerable amount of economy could be secured. In answer to the assertion that the liansport Department failed to make the fullest and best use of the tor.nago which has been compulsor- ■ y appropriated, Mr. Balfour said the Department is acting in consultation with shipowners of the highest possible standing and the greatest practical experience who have worked with the Department as expert advisers without friction. Everyone must admit that the business of the Transport Department is to obtain the shipping necessary for the conveyance of troops and supplies for Army ami Navy; but most peovf° feel lncllnccl to dissent from Mu Balfour's assertion that the Department "has no responsibility tor seeing that the tonnage provided is used in the most economical fashl?i"' ' s - on firmer ground when he points out the important naval and military considerations involved m the movements of the requisitioned ships, and argues that the hill control must be in the hands ot. naval and_ military men.. The danger of civilian interference in the actual conduct of the war must bo avoided at all costs. One cannot gainsay the affirmation that "the proper business' of generals and admirals is not to economise tonnage but to win battles." Our admirals and generals must have all the shipping facilities they require. The best 1 remedy for the shortage of ships is, after all, a- speedy victory.. ~ But it should be possible to do something to lessen the disabilities of the coil? mercial community without interfeung vith the Empire's" fight-inn torces For instance, a correspondent of a London paper states that there arc at present on the stocks and m preparation in the shipbuilding yards of Great Britain some "00 ships upon vhicli little or no work is being done, and which could all be completed in a few months. It may be that ere long tho Admiralty will be in a position to release labour sufficient to enable a special effort to be made to finish these vessels as speedily as possible; hut in the meantime the embarrassment of the shipping shortage is a disturbing factor in the Empire's trade wliicli does not seem likely to be minimised tn anv material extent.