STATE-OWNED SHIPS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2091, 17 February 1920, Page 4

STATE-OWNED SHIPS.

GROWING ENTERPRISES. Mr R. .1. Tumor, in an arliole in “Fairplay” (London),' says a .recent fable message to the Sydney Sun., strikingly summarises the rapid expansion of State-owned shipping with a view to the termination of the dependence on powerful combines. The Commonwealth tonnage is growing marvellously, and will shortly equal that of the premier English companies. America owns 13,000,000 tons, and is planning to build 30-knot steamers. Indian merchant princes, under Govern-, meat auspices, have, formed three important companies for buying and' building ships. ' Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and even the West Indies, have caught the infection of State enterprise. The Government does not intend general nationalisation, but it wants fuller and faster services. While the speed of the Atlantic mail steamers is 25 knots, the Australia!!, South African, and New Zealand deliveries have remained for a quarter of a century in the neighbourhood of 16 knots. This is nor a creditable, ’record,

and the whole important question of Empire transport cannot be left to he determined .on a ba'sis of dividends. “Eairplay,” in a leading article, suggests that surely State-owner-ship is unlikely to stop short of nationalisation. When the Government competes, backed by 7 the taxpayers’ • money, private concerns cannot hope for the service. “If the Commonwealth works its new enterprise to its full capacity,” says the paper, “thq British shipowner goes out or the British Government replaces him.” While the competition of the Dominions must lie carefully weighed, the chief danger to English shipping lies in America' and Japan, which are ambitious and financially strong, while labour conditions increasingly handicap British construction.”