SHIPPING AND TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 83, 5 October 1931, Page 6

SHIPPING AND TRADE

(To the Editor.) Sir,—Your correspondent, T. C. Webster, has written numerous letter* on the above subject, and a very lengthy one from him appeared in "The Post" on the 29th ult. After all his voluminous writings and specious arguments the advantages to bo gained on account of the Mation Line calling at New Zealand are narrowed down to the problematical increase in the touriut traffic, which increase, according to a good many people, will be relatively small Mr. Webster, in championing the cause of the Matson Company, -is encouraging a very serious _ attack on the New Zealand shipping industry, which in turn will adversely affect other dependent industries, but apparently he fails to appreciate this and dismisses it lightly by saying the t local company will be able to look after itself. The Matson Company, ■ .having the assistance of a heavy American Gov; eminent subsidy, as well as a territorial advantage, will .eventually push their weaker competitor to the wall. Assuming this to be the case, and it docs not appear to.be unreasonable, then it will operate to the disadvantage !of New Zealand unless the Matson Company are prepared to restore the following compensating advantages:— ' (1) Offer employment on their vessels to New Zealand seamen of all ratings (who have numerous.dependants) who will have lost their employment. :~. . , , (2) Obtain their stores, or the' greater part of them, in New Zealand, which will amount to' a considerable sum spent in New Zealand. ''■ ', ,(3) Arrange for their vessels trading to New Zealand to be overhauled, dock-

fed, and repaired in New Zealand, thus providing employment for a large number | of:workmen. If the Matoon Company, having created these disabilities, rind they are unable to comply with the foregoing, perhaps it would be pertinent to ask Mr. Webster what advantages New Zealand will receive from this company apart from the problematical increase in tourist traffic. Finally, 11 would like to ask Mr.: Webster if he thinks that as a result of the Matson, Company trading to New Zealand, America will modify her high Customs tariff to such an extent that will permit New. Zealand to export some of her products to that country.—l am, etc., i OBSERVER. (To the Editor.) ; Sir,—Mr. T. C. Webster,, in Tuesday* "Evening Post," accuses m«,: of having only one argument. Supposing that; that is so, it is a good one, and one, good Argument is far better than a lot of bad opes, such as Mr. Webster permits himself. For instance, he states "the opening up of new markets for New Zealand products" as one of his motives for supporting; the Matson Company's enterprise. He jnust surely know that the Matson service 1 will call at much the same places as the other lines, and will thus not be opening up any new markets. And as another of his motives he states "the assurance of an alternative to the present shipping :;lines< to prevent' the complete stoppage of our exports in the event of another strike such as we had a few years ago."_ Our ex*1 ports do not go to America, which shuts' them out with its tariff wall, but to Great | Britain, and how would the Matson Line trading to America save the export situation in case of a strike? Does Mr. Webster not know these simple facts! or does he not think out what he says?—l am,'etc., ZEALANDIA.