MARITIME NATION

Evening Star, Issue 22449, 21 September 1936, Page 14

MARITIME NATION

N.Z. NOT LOSING SEA SENSE PLANS TO AID MERCANTILE MARINE [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, September 21. Plans to aid the mercantile marine, and the part it played in the Jives of New Zealanders’ were outlined by. the Minister of Marine (Mr Eraser) at a social function organised by shipping interests. The Minister emphasised the fact that New Zealand was a maritime country, and that even those who did not go to sea had an importnt part to play in carrying on the groat maritime industry. The immediate problem was the Tasman, and that could be solved. Mr Eraser hoped it would be possible to eliminate out-throat competition among modes of transport. Another way in -which the Government and the people of the country could aid the mercantile marine, continued the Minister, was by making the shores safer, Recent events had impressed this need upon tbe country, and the Government bad laid down a programme to provide radio beacons and other safety devices. Denial of statements that there had been a shortage of recruits for the Navy was given by Paymaster-commander E R. Tottenham, R.N., who said that five hundred applications bad been received for 4G vacancies, which proved that New Zealand was not behind in sea sense. The speaker also refuted statements that the British people were losing that sea sense for which they were famed. Any decrease in recruits was the result of the period of rapid expansion before the war, followed by a period of contraction.