Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1918. STATE OWNED SHIPS.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1918, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1918. STATE OWNED SHIPS.

Tm; question as t 0 whether it : s advisable for New Zealand to acquire i State-owne mercantile fleet has been revived by tile receipt of a telegram j stating that the United States in the ' eight 'months ended August 31st, coil- ! strncteil 1,636,403 tons of shipping, or ' approximately, 90,060 tons more than I were built in the United Kingdom during the same period, tin's being the first time in history when British shipbuilding lias been exceeded by that of any other nation. Another cablegram ] stated that Canada expects to build 500,000 tons of shipping this year, oi which two-thirds will be steed and onethird wood. A visitor to Auckland, Mr John Hooton, general manager of the Farmers' Co-operative Wholesale Federation Limited, has drawn attention to the fact that in addition to the fb'ci of about a dozen vessels purchased in the early part of the war, the Australian Government had recently placed contracts with Australian shipbuilders for several bottoms, niul had in : ddition, placed orders on the Pacific Coast for the destruction of about, a doze., steamers with a capacity of about 500 tons each, and of about a dozen barqnentincs with a capacity of about 2500 tons each. Mr Hooton said it was clear that the Australian Government intended to be no longer dependent upon private enterprise for the carriage of the primary products of the country to oversea markets, and for the transporting from producing countries in Eu--rope of the requirements of the Australian people. He considered the position in New Zealand was lamentable. The storage accommodation was taxed to the utmost with primary products which could not be moved, owing to the want of tonnage, while people on the other side of the world were languishing for these commodities. Large quantities of Australian superphosphates and other necessities for the farming community had been purchased hut deliveries could not be obtained owing to the shortage of ships. It seemed strange that no movement had been set afoot in New Zealand in the direction of following the lead of the British, American, Canadian and Australian Governments with regard to securing oilr own tonnage for the purpose of carrying our products to market in oversea countries, and of transporting our requirements of manufactured goods from Europe and other countries to New Zealand ports. Mr Hooton said the present, would he a good opportunity for the Dominion to associate itself with Australia in placing orders for ships with American firms. Re forring to the same matter, Air Robert Burns, president- of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce expressed the opinion that- in New Zealand it would not be posible to build ships larger that, wooden vessels of about 1060 toils on aeeount of the scarcity of labour and material. Moreover, when the war was over ships of this class would not he re quired except for coastal or Pacific Island trade because large steamers would then he available. Mr Burns ‘.aid he had heard one expert express the opinion that the life of concrete steamer,would be comparatively short. Tins theory was based on the assumption that with great buffeting about- ail 1 the vibration caused by the engines the concrete would disintegrate. Mr Burns favoured the Government acquiring ail interest in a mercantile fleet-after the war, or before if possible. He said no private combination would enter 'llto competition with the immense conference now controlling the line s run ning to New Zealand. The Government could subsidise private enterprise and with such an interest in a fleet the Government- could then regulate or prevent any exploitation.