COMMONWEALTH LINE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 151, 22 March 1920, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH LINE

♦- STEAMERS FOR CARRIAGE OP ' WHEAT. London, March 18. Commenting on the Shipping Controller's demand for tonnage for an additional hundred thousand tons of Australian wheat, 'The Times" mentioned a statement that tho Commonwealth Government does not intend to employ the Commonwealth line of steamers to carry wheat.

Mr. H. B. Larkin, general malinger ,of the Comnionwenltli line, has ■ written to "The Times," pointing out that out of seventeen voyages during the last five months, six Commonwealth steamers carried full cargoes of' wheat and (lour and ten others carried part cargoes, totalling over sixty thousand tons." At present most of the Commonwealth tonnage was, at ths. Imperial Government's urgent request, concentrating on the carriage of wool. Cargo was nllooateil to tho Commonwealth steamers in precisely the same manner as to all British steamers trading to Australia. "The Times," commenting on Mr. Jerkin's letter, says it does not controvert the statement that the Commonwealh does not intend to employ its vessels to transpqrt an additional hundred thousand tons of wheat in April, May, and June.— A us.- N.Z. Cable Assn. SHIPOWNERS LOSING CUSTOMERS. (Rec. March 21, 5.5 p.m.) London, March 19. Shipowners have made representations to the Shipping Controller, who is insisting on the further conveyance of wheat,, that tjioir inability ' to carrv cargo is causing them to loso. all their best customers! who have supported them for many years.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.