RESTORATION OF SHIPPING

Taihape Daily Times, 27 March 1919, Page 4

RESTORATION OF SHIPPING

DEARER MAIL SERVICES

SHIPS TO BE RETURNED WITHIN ONE MONTH.

Received 10.15 a.m

LONDON, March 21

Sir Joseph Mac Lay, at the Australian and New Zealand Club, said It ATould be twelve months before it would be possible to restore the Australasian mail service on anything like the old basis, though owners were doing their utmost. It was impossible that the new mail -contract would *>c anything like as favourable as tne old, owing to the vessels costing {v*o and a half to three times as much, ir the P. and O. secures the mail contract it will use, white crews in tne Australia, ntrade, but it was impossible to man the mercantile marine with British labour alone.

Negotiation between the Board of Trade and ship owners was proceeding regarding the terms vessels would be released from Government control. One condition was that they should be worked in future to secure precedence of Government cargo All ships would proabbly be handed back to tne owners within a month, as the Ministry of Shipping was going out of business.

STEAMERS FOR AUSTRALIA

AX EXPERT'S OPINION.

Received 10.30 a.m. LONDON, March 21

A leading authority on Australian shipping, interviewed regarding the prospect of the post war mail service, ridicules the suggestion that the Australian Government should purchase large speedy vessels for the conveyance of mails and perishable goods. Everyone wants such vessels, whicn don't exist. The only vessels now purchaseable are some standardised ships. Many mail boats used as mine layers have been absolutely gutted, rails being laid on the decks for mine- conveyance. There is no seasoned timberfor reconstruction into passenger boats. The staff of artisans is quite inadequate, and it will be a couple o* years before a full supply of fittings is available.