SHIPS FOR NEW ZEALAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1985, 3 June 1919, Page 3

SHIPS FOR NEW ZEALAND.

POSITION FAIRLY SATISFACTORY. London, May 30. Official. —The shipping position respecting New Zealand’s needs: is still fairly satisfactory, having regard to all the circumstances. Mr Massey while in London during the past eight days saw the shipping Controller with a view to making certain that everything possible was being dope to meet the Dominion’s requirements. He ascertained tha( there are at least nine insulated ships set down for the July sailings from New Zealand ports, with a chance of more, but the delay and difficulty owing to strikes and labour troubles are not yet overcome, though the position has somewhat improved. There has been much congestion in the repair shipping yards. As many as nine hundred merchant ships were awaiting repair a short time ago in Britain. In addition there were in two ports no fewer than 180 ships lying idle for want of labour, which may seem an extraordinary fact in view of the serious state* of unemployment in Britain. Shipbuilding is proceeding satisfactorily in several yards. Speaking at a complimentary luncheon, Mr Massey, as the guest of the Empire Producers’ Association, urged the necessity for the de-» velopmcnt of the shipping services between the • overseas Dominions and Britain. Something had already been done, but more must be done to explore the possibilities of the movement towards increasing our inter-Empire trade. It might be necessary to subsidise suitable ships, but, whatever happened, it would be in (he interests of citizens throughout the Empire that everything possible should be done to improve our shipping facilities.