SHIPPING CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3108, 12 June 1917, Page 4

SHIPPING CONTROL

The very sweeping regulations for tho control of vessels registered in Now Zealand issued by the Government yesterday will no doubt bo associated by the public with the proposed merger of the Union Steam Ship Company of. Zealand in t.ho P. and 0. Company. Under the regulations now issued no vessel on the New Zealand Shipping Register can bo sold or transferred or mortgaged; or lcavo New Zealand for any port overseas without the consent of the Minister of Marinr. Other powers are given the Minister which, br.oadly speaking, enable him to exercise tlio most complete control over the movements of all vessels registered in New Zealand, and te safeguard the interests of the people- of the Dominion by preventing such vessels as are engaged in trading in or with New Zealand Prom being withdrawn from that trade. Under existing conditions the step taken is a wise precaution. It is truo that the numbor of vessels now on flio Re-

gisler hero and suitable for overseas trading' is comparatively small. According to the latest available, figures thero were in 1015 a total ot 190 sailing vessels of a, gross tonnage of 23,5'1G tons, and 385 steam vessels of a gross tonnage of 126,549 tons on the Now Zealand Register. These figures include vessels of all sizes, and the great majority, of course, are of very small tonnage. Shortly after tho outbreak of war many of the principal vessels of the U.S.'S. Company's ilect arc stated to have been transferred to the London register, and so have been placed beyond tho control of the New Zealand Government. Still, tho power now taken by tho Government will onable it to exercise an influence which, if used with judgment and discretion, should nrovo of advantage to tho Dominion. Presumably its immediate effect will bo to put a, stop to tho proposed absorption of tho U.S.S. Company by tho P. and 0. Company. "The hasto with which this project was being rushed through gave rise to a good deal of adverse comment, and there was also much uneasiness as to what tho effect of such a step if accomplished might be on tho future trading interests of tho Dominion. Now opportunity has been provided for giving it full consideration at leisure, which perhaps is in the interests of the shareholders as well as in the interests of tho people of the Dominion generally.