AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taihape Daily Times, 30 April 1918, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

$} DUTCH-AUSTRAL lAN SHIPS. BUSINESS MEN’S FEARS. Melbourne, April 17. After announcing that be was in sympathy with the views of the deputation, Mr. Boynton, Minister in charge of Shipping, promised to-day that a cable message would be sent to the British Government backing up a request that Dutch vessels coming to trade on the Australian coast would not be commandeered. The deputation, which was introduced by Mr. F. T. Derham, represented business men who trade with the East Indies. They stated that the steamer Tasman, which was engaged in the Australian-East Indies trade, had been commandeered, and the Dutch people were afraid to send the Houtmau on its usual trip to Australia fearing that it would be taken. Goods valued at £250,000 were awaiting shipment to the East. Mr. Boynton said that Admiral Sir William Clarkson, the Controller of Shipping, had investigated the matter, and a cable message had been sent to Great Britain asking that a guarantee be given that the Houtman would not be commandeered. That course had his (the Minister’s) approval, and he would sene another cable with a view to securing an early reply.