COMMANDEERED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3019, 5 March 1917, Page 5

COMMANDEERED

VESSELS IN THE AUSTRALIAN TRADE , . (Rcc. March 4, 5.5 p..m.) London, March 3. The Controllei' of Shipping has notified tho requisitioning of all vessels in the ; Australian trado, Blue Book rates to form the basis of remuneration, subject . to adjustment of the various charges. The Government desires to interfere at i present as little as possible with existing trado arrangements at Home. Tho intention is that owners shall run the vessels as for themselves, though actually for the Government, -who confidently look to tho conduct of the business to bo zealously and carefully carried on, as if their owii interests alone wore Ownere are asked to appoint a small committee to examine the requirements of trade in relation | to tho tonnage available and submit < for the Controller's approval sugges- < tious- for tho outward employment of 1 individual vcssols, and to pay special : attention to ascertaining whether any i tonnage in excess outward of require- i ments was available for employment in ( other trades.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. 1 j

CHAMBER OF SHIPPING PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS (Rcc. March 4,' 5.5 p.m.) London, March 3. -In his Presidential address to the United Kingdom Chamber of Shipping, Mr. 'William Eaoburu, whilo admitting that Allied shipping losses during tire last fow months had been serious, declared that the situation was not salarniing. Ho'was confident tho submarines would bo just as powerless to affect tho final issue as were the Zeppelins. He hoped that very soon every merchantman would bo armed. Eyiyts opined that a gun or guns, astern were sufficient.

Regarding shipbuilding thcr'o was not only scarcity of material, but : also ■ scarcity .of men. But it was no use disguising tho fact that the men, although making enormous wages, were giving less and less work in return. If employers delayed or obstructed important national work, they would receive short shrift; then why not deal similarly with the men?- The time for slackness and timidity has passed. Finally he suggested that ono of the conditions of peace should bo that Germany be compelled to hand over her entire mercantile fleet. Why should compunction be shown a nation with such records of infamy on tho high seas? A resolution was carried condemning tho nationalisation of the mercantile ■ marine.—Router.; A GREAT/LINER FLEET INTENTIONS OF~,CUNARD LINE • '(Rcc. March 3, 5.5 p.m.) . New York, March 2. It is stated in shipping circles that the Cuiuwl Lino will spend twenty millions sterling in Atlantic and Pacific shipyards, and** build a great liiicr fleet to foil the submarine blockade, by re- j placing ships as fast as they are sunk, j —Router.