U.S.A. INTRUSION

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1932, Page 5

U.S.A. INTRUSION

INTO N.Z. TRADE

PROTEST BY NAVY LEAGUE.

/By Teleyiapn—Per Frets Association)

WELLINGTON, June 8,

The question ot foreign '■ competition with Dominion’ ' shipping i* to be brought up for discussion as part tf the agenda at tile Ottawa Conference, according to the reply given by the Prime Minister, Mr lorbee, to representations from the New Zealand Branch of the Navy League.

‘ The President of the Branch, Mr W. Perry-said that the continuance of New Zealand and Australian vessels, and the likelihood of. their crews, were > seriousy threaten'd by ' the competi-, tion of the American vessel* that were subsidised by their Government to a grotesque extent, and were either built with Government money or, in case of cargo lines, were sold to the present owners by the Governmnt at extraordinarily low prices'. He said the annual value of the assistance- received from the Government by three large vessels of the Matson Line, of which two were now naming, and one was to be ready shortly, would apparently amount to over £400,000 a yeniq.while cargo lines from the United States Pncjfio ports toi-New' Zealand and Alls- '• tralja were running under contracts under which subsidies would amount to some £78,000 a year, %?■

In yoplying, the Prime Mnister said the New Zealand Delegation to the Ottawa Conference’would see that this ■subject came up for discussion. What was really required was tlie removal of some of the present restriction in fairness to all parts of the Empire. The spirit of the day was to see. how far the nations of the. world could co-opearte. Our merchant .shipping mu*t be maintained. It was pretty'hard hit just now.