The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1917. CONTROL OF THE EMPIRE'S SHIPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1917. CONTROL OF THE EMPIRE'S SHIPPING.

The one great absorbing question which is troubling the producers of the Dominions is the scarcity of shipping, and importers arc also much interested in the same problem. The Imperial Government has tackled this matter with commendable thoroughness by taking the on! practical course under the circumstances—complete State control. In pooling all the shipping interests and bringing them under one management the Imperial Government has conducted the greatest experiment in nationalising An industry that has ever been taken in hand in the Empire, Ninety-seven per cent, of the ocean-going vessels have been requisitioned for hire, and the Government has issued a circular letter, copies of which have been sent to the Dominions, setting forth the condition of shipping matters and the steps taken with regard to control. The facts set forth should certainly prove interesting, its showing the terrible effect of the present war wastage—or, perhaps, it would be more appropriate to say the wanton destruction by the ruthless Huns. The gross tonnage of the ocean-going vessels registered in Great Britain has fallen from some 18,000,000 to 14,000,000. Imports for ordinary industrial and commercial purposes have declined from 40,000,000 tons to from 15,000,000 to 14,000,000 tons. The export tonnage has suffered a diminution of 2C per cent., and the imported wealth for consumption, not connected with the prosecution of the war, has decreased in Britain by 26,000,000 tons. Some of this represents national sacrifices nad savings, but a due share may justly be deemed as restricting industry. While on the one side there lias been a compulsory cutting down of non-essentials in the home life of the people, on the other hand a stimulus has been given to greater home production. It stands to reason that the total loss of wealth from the enforced restriction of exports and imports must have been very great, but the one dominant factor now is ensuring a sufficiency of foodstuffs and necessaries of life, and jt is that aspect of the question which has guided the Government in its control of shipping. The institution of a drastic system of rationing and the elimination of all non-essential freights was the only way whereby it was possible to concentrate on absolute essentials. This naturally involves the interests of the shipowners and exporters having to give way to the interests of the masses, for their requirements must be the first concern. Producers in the Dominions will certainly not suffer by this new scheme, for wool, meat, butter and cheese are all needed by the British people, and cannot be obtained in sufficient quantities nearer Europe. This explains why the Imperial Government has requisitioned New Zealand wool, butter, cheese, and meat. So far ns the butter is concerned * late cable outlines th« distribution

the completion of which lias | probably been delayed until negotiations for the purchase were practically settled. As the Imperial Government now controls the shipping, it may reasonably assumed that in view of providing for the needs of the people, arrangements will be made for lifting the Dominion's produce and transporting it to the Motherland. We shall still suffer from the scarcity of shipping, but sacrifices in this direction are its nothing compared with tho hardships of those near the war area. The war lias brought about many drastic changes, and stern necessity lias compelled the solution of pressing problems. This great lesson in organisation as applied to shipping control is one that stands out as a great transformation of industrial and economic conditions. The lack of organised effort in New Zealand to meet the pressing problems created by war conditions accounts for many of our needless troubles. Yet, by the irony of fate, while the British export trades arc being temporarily annihilated, the Dominion's exports are being fostered. Under such circumstances New Zealand is on a good wicket, and it would be selfish to make any fuss over the inconveniehces arising from the shortage of shipping. If we are to do our part in shouldering war sacrifices there should be a universal desire to help to the utmost the Imperial authorities in the colossal task devolving upon them in the feeding and clothing of their millions. One effect of the new control will be a uniform rate, and this should prove a great improvement. The shipping companies will be well paid, but an end will be put to the piling up of huge profits by exploiting the shippers. The | Imperial Government deserves the warm congratulations of the Empire on having tackled this shipping l problem with courage and determination.