SEA-BORNE TRADE

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 10

SEA-BORNE TRADE

Life-blood Of Dominion Industry

MINISTER’S ADDRESS

Prosperity Dependent On Efficient Shipping

The important part played by her sea-borne trade in the national and economic life of New Zealand was stressed by the Minister of Marine. Mr. Fraser, speaking at a luncheon reception held yesterday on board the new liner Dominion Monarch. His hearers, numbering some 500, included port and shipping officials, parliamentarians, and prominent Wellington citizens and business men.

Anybody associated with the trade and industry of New Zealand must feei deeply indebted to all who pioneered the great shipping lines, said Mr. Fraser, and in particular to those who inaugurated tlie lines peculiarly associated with New Zealand. He recalled the romance of the two young men who founded the Shaw. Savill and Albion Company, Mr. Walter Savill and Mr. Robert Ewart Shaw. In embarking on their great commercial adventure, they looked round tlie whole globe in search of scope for enterprise, and when they finally selected New Zealand they did so believing that, because it showed less sign of unstable and artificial prosperity, it had greater potentialities for future development. The whole history of the development of the company, from the first humble sailing ship to tlie present great and magnificent liner, was a wonderful example of commercial enterprise. He, and till who were present, must have fully realized that here in the New Zealand trade was a ship equal to any afloat. He congratulated Captain W. H. Hartman on his command. Captain Hartman was partially at any rate a citizen of Wellington, and his friends here had been very sorry when he decided to go to sea again—but now that lie had returned in this fine ship he was doubly welcome.

Life-Blood of Industry.

Industry in New Zealand depended to a great extent upon the efficient loading and handling of her merchandise. Tlie shipping was the life-blood of the economic existence of the Dominion. So long as tlie shipping was efficient ami up-to-date, as this liner proved it to be, and so long as the services could be carried on as expeditiously as was possible, the future prosperity of the Dominion would be' assured. Such enterprise deserved the reciprocation of alt concerned. The Government .of the country set out, as far as was possible within the means of the country, to see that everyone of useful service to the country received an adequate living. That could not be achieved, however, unless everybody in the country, whether in workshop, farm or office, were willing to give of his best. Unless tills were done, it would not be possible to attain that standard of Living every civilized country should have.

■When the means of transport was at hand to convey the country’s produce, it was a betrayal for anybody not to give of his best, and to do his best. In economic and social life, as in moral and spiritual, it was better to give than to receive.

Need of Co-operation.

"It Is better,” he said, "to feel one is taking one's part in the building of a great nation, than just drawing upon it, without giving any useful service iu return. The best, support we can give to the Shaw, Savill and Albion and other shipping companies is full reciprooation, in working together as partners for this little but, in our opinion, wonderful country of ours, and for the great Conum on wealth of Nations to which we are proud to be a part.”

Air. Fraser said that it was never more necessary than at present for the voice of British solidarity to ring straight and true. He repeated the message of the Prime Alinister, Mr. Savage, when be said at Auckland that whatever difficulties Britain might get into. New Zealand would lie with her. Her people were not. going to rest contented if they saw endangered all that their forefathers had bled for and died for in the past.