SHIPPING CONTROL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3109, 13 June 1917, Page 6

SHIPPING CONTROL

THE REGULATIONS DISCUSSED

SOME LOCAL OPINIONS

The regulations issued by llio Government on Monday for the control of shipping wove the chief topic of conversation in business circles in Wellington yesterday, and a Domixiox , reporter "who made inquiries on tho subject found th'at commercial men generally were disposed to approve of tho action that hnd been taken. They assumed that the effect of the regulations would bo to prevent tho Union Steam Ship Company being absorbed by the P. and 0. Company, or at least to prevent the merging of interests' becoming administrative ns well as financial. But there was uncertainty as to the precise meaning to be attached to the regulations, and as to their actual scope in view of the fact that ships of the Union Company engaged in the Home and transport service have been placed oil the British register during the w«r period in order to take advantage of (he Imperial Government's war insurance scheme.

"The intention of the regulations is clear enough," said a shipping man. "The Government evidently wishes to prevent the completion of the merging scheme that has been placed before tho shareholders of the Union Company. .Tust how fur the intention can bo realised I do not profess to know. The regulations, as I read them, do not cover ships owned by a New Zealand company but registered iD the United Kingdom. If that is tho case they may not serve to retain in the New Zealand trade the very ships that are of ■ moat concern. What they appear to do is to give the Government a grip of ships engaged in the coastal and intercolonial trade. The withdrawal of nny more of those ships at the present juncture undoubtedly wortjd be n. very swious matter for New Zealand industry and commerce."

Another gentleman interested in shipping matters said he presumed that the (government was acting after consultation with the Imperial authorities, or M least intended to consult tho Imperial authorities before proceeding further. Uβ British Bonrd of Trade had very '.nil control of British shipping at tho present time, and it certainly would promptly requisition any steamer or useful size that was removed from the New Zealand trade. The war naturally governed the whole situation at the present time and ho was inclined to think hat the Government was looking past llio necessities of the war period and rnnsulerinsr the possibilities of Hie future J lie present amount of tonnage available fw New Zealand's trade with the United K ingdom depended not upon anytime that could be done hero, but upon the n location of steamers by the Board of Ir.ido in London.

I ilo not blaraa the Government at all for takinsr prompt .-vction to nrotoet Aow Zealand's interests," added tin? »ent'emnn, 'but mpnriiurs are the onlo" of the day in the shipping world, and ther are being forced upon British shipowner]) to some extent. Centralised control and heavy financial backing made the Germans the formidable competitors that "'7 " se V° '* 'I Hie shinning trade, ami the shipowners of the British Empire have got. to prepare for strenuous competition in the years to come. Tho principle of Government supervision of ishedthat the danger of pxnloitation is minimised. However, the whole question , s ? p en f o r discussion, and I for ojie 'hat the Government is going to do under these regulations." The reporter gathered in othor quarters tut many business people felt stronrlv that control of a . merra ntile fleet that Jiad long been regarded as a peculiarly ™ Zealand institution should not b'o Union Steam Ship Company, H, ov said " c K ],R A I'Mn built up from very small beginnings in New Zealand bv W Zealand people. Tt had become a part ,, th ?, business, fabric o f the country, nnd it had enjoyed important advantages simply because Government and people made .t their business to support the local company. It had been protected from much outside competition in the ocal and intercolonial trade by the regulations requiring ships to comply with A cur Zealand conditions as to manning pay, accommodation, and so forth i,. «,i° Pe %"* J he Government is serious and that it will be able to prevent the l L'mon Company becoming absorbed by Hie W combine The TTnfon Company is sa.hng vesses with a total net tonnage or .21,8,1.1,- am] .j!)o steamers, with a ret tonnage of 70,.J42 (gross 124,833). These figures include vessels of all sizes but or II ot t / ! °. ver oil launches ami very small craft that are not required. to register small, not more than 25 being of 101)0 tons net or over. The Union f ompanv's steamers employed in Home trade and (he transport service are on the British re-i= tor, this arrangement having been necossaiy under tho Imperial Governments scheme for war insurance.