PASSENGER SERVICE

Hokitika Guardian, 4 November 1931, Page 5

PASSENGER SERVICE

AMERICA TO DOMINION. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, November 4. The Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) referred in the House of Representativeg to tht? j'«pro»entatk>nn placed before tile Government with regard to the proposed inclusion of Auckland as an intermediate port of cad by vessels of the Matson Line. He said that New Zealand could not object to an American Shaping Company, whether subsidised or not, carrying citizens, who would no doubt comprise the majority of the passengers, especially as those travellers would, in a large measure, be induced to visit New Zealand as a result of publicity efforts of the Company concerned. The Matson Company had, for a number of years, been conducting passenger services from San Francisco to Pago Pago, Suva, and Sydney, and one southern portion of the route had already been in competition with British shipping between British ports. This new development represented, in addition, a further British port in the itinerary. The three British ports concerned were not within the territory controlled by any one Government, and Legislative- action by three Governments would be necessary to prevent the carriage of passengers by American vessels between those ports. The attitude of the (British Government had always been against any policy of discrimination against non-British sh:p----p-ing. _ ... It was recognised that United States legislation, which prevented noil-Ameri-can vessels from carrying on traffic between Honolulu and other American ports, was open to objection, and tnaii the Matson Lime were heavily subsidised by the United States Government. The position was being carefudy watched anu the attention of the United Kingdom and Australian Governments would be called to the inquitable conditions.