IMPERIAL SHIPPING CONTROL.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1917, Page 3

IMPERIAL SHIPPING CONTROL.

New Liner Scheme. . London, March 9. “ The Times ” has an announcement of especial interest to New Zealand and Australia. It learns that measures are now contemplated by Sir Joseph Maclay, the Controller of Shipping, and his committees for dealing systematically with the employment of liners in various trades. As a beginning, the new method is being applied to vessels in the Australian and New Zealand trades, than which, it is only fair to state, none, probably, even under the existing system, are better organised or more economically employed. “ The scheme provides,” ‘ The Times ’ continues, “ that all vessels in those trades should be requisitioned to the State on what are known as the Blue Book conditions. Owners will carry on their business much as hitherto, with the important exceptions that they will themselves form a committee of management on which the Shipping Controller will be represented, and that all pi’ofits above those allowed by the Blue Book terms shall go to tho State. All competition, even of the limited character which has existed during the war, will be eliminated. * The scheme is to take effect as from the completion of each vessel’s first discharge of cai’go in this country. “It is understood to be the intention of the Shipping Controller "to deal with other lines in a similar way, and to put such schemes into operation as soon as possible. “ The action of the Shipping Controller meets with the cordial approval of shipowners, and the public will be certain to welcome it warmly as another indication that the tonnage problem is now being vigorously tackled. It will regard this scheme as one of the most effective measures which the present Government has adopted to win the War. Under the new system, when applied to all vessels, the public will have the satisfaction of knowing that all tonnage will be most efficiently employed in the interests of the nation. The scheme shows that the Shipping Controller is now dealing with the tonnage problem as a whole, whereas until lately piecemeal methods had been adopted. It will be remembered that as long ago as 1915 a requisitioning was arranged,- between the Government and shipowners, of all the refrigerated space in all the insulated steamers. This scheme has beeu found to work without a hitch and to ensure, as a consequence, that the “utmost use was made of the refrigerated space. The success of that scheme is of good omen for the success of the present larger plan which is now being adopted, and the Shipping Controller is to bo heartily congratulated on the boldness with which the question has been tackled.”