FRENCH COMMERCE.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 279, 4 December 1901, Page 1

FRENCH COMMERCE.

EXTRAORDINARY STEPS TO REVIVE MERCHANT MARINE. (Per R.M.S. Ventura, at Auckland.) San Francisco, Nov. 14. At the time the mail left, the Paris Chamber of Deputies had begun the discussion of the Ministerial project aiming at tne revival of the decaying merchant marine of France. The project provides that any iron or steel vessel exceeding one hundrod tons gross tonnage, engaged in any international trade and flying the French flag, shall receive an annual subsidy in proportion to her tonnage, until she is twenty years old. A larger subsidy is accorded to vessels fulfilling similar conditions, built in France, and under fifteen years old. Admiral Rieneur (Republican) criticised the Bill as ineffective, and suggested a tax on foreign flags entering French ports. Another cablegram announces that tho Minister of Commerce of Paris proposes to appoint a committee to make an elaborate plan for establishing a French school in the United States, devoted to tho study of American industrial methods, M. Millerand himself is said to be the originator of this scheme.

M. Bouquet, Director-in-Chief of the Department of Technical Instruction of the Ministry of Commerce, said in an interview: “Wo realise that America leads the van in industrial progress. She is far ahead of England, Germany, and ourselves in organisation and methods of work. Hitherto we have been sending a number of students of engineering to Germany, England, and Belgium, but the Minister has come to the conclusion that the field which offers the greatest profit in their study is the United States. Therefore, the new undertaking is planned.” Still another indication that France does not intend to be left far bohind in the race between nations comes in the shape of an increase of the navy. The Minister of Marine, M. Delannesa, presiding at the launching of the armoured cruiser Leon Gambetti, on October 26, said that the vessel was one of a new consignment of upward of one hundred warships, each to possess perfect fighting qualities. Unless unforeseen difficulties occurred abroad the naval programme would be completed in the time fixed by the Chamber, and then France would enjoy a season of the security which her numerous solid battalions assured her on the Continent of Europe. While French vessels were more costly they were worth more than the ships of other maritime nations. The French navy was directing its efforts to tho fighting qualities of its ships, rather than to numbers. Only strong nations could hope to honorably preserve peace and liberty.