BRITISH SHIPS IN THE PACIFIC

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 206, 16 September 1937, Page 5

BRITISH SHIPS IN THE PACIFIC

-Press Assn.-

"Subsidy Must be Me't by Subsidy" HOLD-UP IN PLAN HINTED

(By Tolegraph—

-Copyright.)

(Received 16, 10.5U a.m.) CANBERRA, Sept. 16. The Federal Priine Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. A. Lyons, announced officially in the House of Representatives that the CommonwealCE Government would enter into an agreement with other Enipire Governments to establisli a subsidised British shippmg service in. the Pacilie. Mr. Lyons indieated that there would bo no chance of iutroducing; legislation to ratify the agreement until after the elections. Hc did not explain why, but it is understood that the reason is that obstacles have bech raised .by the (Janadian and New Zealand Governments. A London cable (reports that the Daily Mail, in an edifrorial entitled "Hoisting tho Blue Peter," welcomes Mr, Lyons 's announcement and urges that now that the British Government, in 'conjunction with the Dominions, has decided to support the Merchant Navy it must be prepared to centinue unwaveringly to secure a fair field without favour in the Pacific. "It is useless," the editorial adds, "to wait for competitors to abandon their fierce discrimination against British lines. Subsidy must be met by subsidy and xestnction by countermeasures. ' ' If British vessels are granted help equalling that of their foreign rivals, it will not be long before the RetL En.sign is agam supreme in the I'acific." The Daily Mail expects, that vessels of an aggregate value of £3,000,000, with a yield of 22 knots and designed to carry 425 first-class, 300 cabin and 100 tnird-class passengers will be built.