AMERICAN SHIPPING.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3487, 15 May 1920, Page 5

AMERICAN SHIPPING.

~...,... PROBLEMS 01:‘ 'l‘.tlE FU'l‘L'=Rls.

STATE OWNERSHIP OPPOSED

LOS .~'LNGELES,_ Ap_ril 9.

' Americans have not forgotten that a nizijorily of their‘ troops cl‘os:sed the Atiaintic in‘ British ships. Britain has now about 24; per cent of the world ’s tonnage, while the United States has about 18 per cent. At the present time the problems of the future afi being debated keenly, and not without some misgiving. Next week the Nationgil Marine Leaguee will hold it great‘ exposition in New York in order to stimulate interest in the mercantile in-urine. The Depal't.lncnts of the Navy and of Com—merce and the United States’ Shipping ,Bo2u'd will take part and there will be ta great display of marine paraphernalia amid a brilliant setting of Ecoiour and music.

The League puts this question to the people: “Is our war-bol'n mel'chq'llt fleet :1 lnushroom, growth that will perish with the excitement that created if, or is the United Statés to take a pcl'mallent. place among the grout shipping nations, and to become independent of hil-‘ed c‘:‘£ll'riers in its exporf tl'adc‘?"' '

It is pointed But by the League that America cannot have a merchant marine unless the people are really interested in and want it, and it is asserted that the country needs a merchant marine more than ever before. The task of theileague is to arouse the sea-going spirit. in the people. In pro-Civil War days Americans. were a “ship-conscious” people as the British are to—day. Through certain causes the American marine disappeared from all oceans gafter the civil war, but recently the present fleet was created because it had to be done. The Shipping Board asks that it be given two more years of life so that the ships belonging to the Axrierican people can be sold to priv-ate capital without: too heavy a loss. ' . A The league feels that unless American capital will invest in ships, unless American boys will Work on ships, unless voters will take ”aii‘ interest in ships in order that necessary legislation shall be passed by Congress, nothing can stop the mercantile marine from declining again, and ultimately disappearing. No one seems to deny that the Emergency Fleet Corporation has done well. It attracted the interest of the public to shipping when private capital had long failed to do so. But a continuance of Government ownership and control does not seem even to be considered in high places. Just at present a wave of opposition to Government ownership of anything is sweeping over the country. These ships were never in private hands, yet they seem certain to" go into private hands and art a good deal less than cost. The general sentiment. seems to be that this is the correct thing to do. The league believes in private ownership, but insists on the necessity of having the ships under the stars and stripes. It argues that many of America’s old» export markets have been destroyed or rendered inaccessible and new ones must: be developed. The advantages of having American ships are obvious. Europe is soon to begin dumping enormous quantities of manufactured goods in order to pay what she owes. Americans must l_lave_ shipping facilities"to move these goods again to sell them elsewhere. Unless this is done the markets will be glutted and American shops and factories closed.

An Associated Press xncssnge from Cons’rantinople states that after Britain, the United States has at pre:~:.ent more c-ommercial "shipping in L(‘.vnntine \\'lltOl'S than any other nation. A prominent American doing business there §-aid: “Our position is like that of a railroad without sfations or terminals. We have ships, but no Ainerican shipping agents to handle the. We have facilities at the various ports and are at the niercy of foreign agents, backed by tlmir Governments, whose interest is in assuring their own comniercial interests. American interests are ready to erect temporary transport wal;ehouses. bu-t (3?l‘nnot got permits to do so. The efi'orfs of the shipping bo:.-rd to gef :1 footing in Consfantinople are said ‘to be blocked at every furn.”