STATE STEAMERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2936, 23 November 1916, Page 4

STATE STEAMERS

:* ; ' IDEA BEFORE COMMERCE, CONFERENCE. A question that has been much discussed of late—State-owned steamers — was introduced to the Chambers of Commerce Conference yesterday by Mr. 1 T. D. A. Moffitt, of Invercargill, who moved:— "That, considering the recent action of the shipping companies in raising rates of freight' whilst de-. claring abnormal profits, in the opinion of this chamber it is desirable that the matter be brought under the notice of Parliament, with the suggestion that the Dominion should acquire its own ships and become carriers for all New Zealand produce and imports." Mr. Moffitt complained of high freights, and said the merchants and producers of this country were in a position dangerously dependent on the big shipping companies. As to the financial side of the enterprise which he proposed, he said that the excess profits on shipping meat, wool, and cheese were over £2,000,000, which amount would purchase several vessels. There were precedents for such a Btep in our State railways, savings bank, fire and life insurance, water power, and so on. Moreover, there was State control of our man-power, so there could hardly be objection to State control of transport. We in New Zealand were so much dependent on the shipping companies that-, if producers could not pay whatever freights asked, their produce would lie rotting on the wharves. In the Commonwealth of Australia the State shipping enterprise had shown a profit two years after its inauguration. On the suggestion of Mr. J. G. Harkncss, several remits hearing on tho one subject wore Teforrcd to a committee to bring down one resolution this morning.