BRITISH MERCANTILE MARINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1917, Page 4

BRITISH MERCANTILE MARINE.

THE GOVERNMENT COMMAN D BERING SCHEM E.

HARDSHIPS TO SHIPOWNERS

W lai.iNUTox, Nov 8

An article communicated by’ the Imperial Government to the press has been forwarded by’ the Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Hon G. W. Russell (Minister for Marine). After promising that before the war ocean-going vessels on the U ll ited Kingdom register represented between l 7,00u,000 and 18,000,000 tons gross, these were reduced now to about 14.000,000 tons.'After explaining the various requirements of the national service, the article goes on to say: “ From the beginning of the war British ships have steadily been requisitioned by tlie Government and run in the national instead of the private interests. The rates paid to shipowners soon become very’ much lower than the freights which could be earned by free ships, and British shipowners have therefore been unable to rely upon earning the same freights as their competitors. Now the situation lias reached a stage at which it has been necessary to take complete control of all British shipping, in order to ensure the employment of every vessel in a manner and on terms as to rate of freight most consistent with the national interest. The result may be summarised as follows :

(L) With the exception of a few vessels engaged in distant waters on work which is vital to British colonies, and of vessels chartered to France and Italy, the British Government has requisitioned for hire at Government rates abont 117 per cent of the oceangoing tramps on the United Kingdom register.

(2) All British liners have been requisitioned, and are being run on the Government account. Owners receive hire at Government rates, and the profits derived from private freights carried at market rates go to the Government and not to shipowners.

(3) Every ocean-going voyage of British steamers is now directed by the Government, who have regard only to the question of how they can obtain essential imports from the nearest source, and disregard both the interests of tlie shipowner and the exporter.

(4) Many trades built np in distant waters and sustained by British industry have had to be abandoned to neutral owners, who gladly seek employment for their vessels in areas immune from war risk.

(5) The coastal traffic round the shores of the United Kingdom is being subjected to a searching review, for the purposes : (a) Of withdrawing vessels which can he utilised for ocean-going work ; and (b) of bringing abont a limitation of rates whenever possible. It is necessary to emphasise tlie effect of the lines requisitioning scheme referred to above upon the shipping industry. The owners are placing all their organisation and resoui’ces at the disposal of the Government for running the requisitioned. liners. They have also agreed to pool their organisations, and this has, of course, necessitated the closest, co-operation between what, may have been competitive interests before the war. In many’ instances the trades built up by the shipowners must sutler severely’ from the depletion of shipping caused by the diversion of the steamers from their usual routes. A further point which should he borne in mind is the extraordinary’ risks which officers and crews of merchant, vessels have to run in order to bring necessary’ commodities into this country. Areas round the British Isles have been singled ont by tlie enemy for special attack, but, notwithstanding the risks involved, officers and crews have not made any difficulty about taking their ships through the most dangerous routes. Apart from the effect upon shipping interests, the country generally’

Las also had to suffer great and increasing sacrifices by shortage of tonnage caused by war requirements and submarine losses : (1) The diversion of liners from long distance to short distance trades has indicted injury on many British export trades (particularly to India and the Far Fast), and also upon interests of our own distant exporting colonies.

(2) Avery i'ar-i’eaching programme of restriction of imports has been put into effect Luxuries (including many commodities produced by our colonies and our allies) have been excluded, and the import even of essential articles have been reduced to the lowest level compatible with national security. (3) The restriction of coasting facilities will create some inevitable hardship for coast towns which have hitherto relied on sea-borne supplies of coal- and other commodities, for the railway services of the country I are already overstrained, and cannot | wholly till the place of the coasting 1 tonnage which will have to be with- | drawn.

The article ends with a comparison of exports and imports before and since the. war, showing that imports for the purposes of industries and commerce have fallen from 40,0u0,0('0 to 14,000,('U0 or 15,000,000 tons, and exports by about 20 per cent.