AUSTRALIA'S SHIPPING PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 157, 28 March 1919, Page 7

AUSTRALIA'S SHIPPING PROBLEM

A SUGGESTION RIDICULED PHANTOM MAIL LINERS By Telegraph—Presß Association— Copyright London, March 21. A leading authority on Australian shipping, in an interview on tho prospects of the mail service after the war, ridicules the suggestion that Iho Australian Government should purchase large and speody vessels for tho conveyance of mails and perishable goods. "Everyone," he said, "wants such vc.s. sels, which do not' exist. The only vessels now purchaseable aro somo standardised ships. Many mailboat? were used for minelayers, nnd were absolutely gutted, and rails were laid on. the decks tor tho conveyance of mines. There is no seasoned timber for converting them back to passenger boats, and tho staff oi artisans is (luito inadequate. It. will do a couple of years before a full supply of fittings is available. "It will be at least nine or twelvo month/; before it. will be possible to restore the Australasian mail service lo anything like tho old basis, though the owners are doing their utmost. A newmail contract, on anything like as favourable terms as the old one is impossible, owing to the boals costing two and a half to throe times as much as before. If the Peninsular and Oriental Lino secures the mail contract, it will use wliito crews in the Australian trade; but it will bo impossible to man tho mercantile marine with British labour alone. Negotiations between the Board of Trade and the shipowners, were proceeding regarding the terms wpoti which vessels would be released t from Government control, and the conditions upon which they should 1m worked in future to secure the precedence of Government cargo. All ships would probably be handed back to tho owners within a month, ami the Ministry of Shipping was going out oi business.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF COASTAL TONNAGE INDUSTRIES JEOPARDISED. (Rec. March 27, 10.10 p.m.) Melbourne, March 27. The Controller of Shipping reports thai chiefly as the result of the quarantine restrictions there is a serious shortage of inter-State shipping tonnage, which threatens grave problems. The coal stocks of tho railways,, gas companies, manufacturers, and mining companies aro being rapidly depleted, and current requirements cannot 'be met. Vailing relief, many wiU be compelled to close, entailing widespread unemploymentPress Assn.