THE WORLD'S SHIPPING.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1920, Page 4

THE WORLD'S SHIPPING.

The war lms brought about a great change in the world's shipping, due to the sinking of over a quarter of the British tonnage, and the activity by the United States in the shipbuilding- industry during the last two years of the war and since. Shipping is necessary to the development of the trade of every country, hut to Britain it is vital, as, indeed, it is to colonies like New Zealand. Therefore, some facts appearing in a recnt issue of Lloyd's Register will be read with interest. That intersting publication shows that within tile next twelve months there will be launched throughout the world tome 7,721,000 tons of shipping. There are now in existence 53,905,000 tons, which is an actual increase of 8,501,000 tons as compared with six years ago. Examining the figures which nfe now set out we find that this expansion is due to the rapid growth of the American Mercantile .Marine, which has increased by 10,-n!),000 tons. The shipping of the United Kingdom is still less than it was before the war, the deficiency being 781,000 tons. Japan, to whose shipbuilding the war gave a great impetus, has increased her mercantile marine by ] ,288,000 tons. Prance has increased her tonnage by 1,041,000 tons, and the Italian mercantile marine is greater bv 088,000 tons. Another outstanding figure is that for Germany. Six years ago she ranked after the United Kingdom as an owner of shipping, with 5,) 35,000 tons. Her mercantile marine has now been reduced by 4,71<5,0€0 tons to 410,000 tons, which is the smallest figure recorded in the table. The new figures also enable us to gauge the changes in the statistical shipping situation during the past year, The total tonnage of the world has increased during the twelve months by 0,008,000 tons. This amount is rather larger than that recorded as in course of construction a year ago, and it confirms the view that the 7,721,000 tons! now being built may be expected to be added to the world's shipping during the ensuing twelve months. Comparing the present: figures with those issued last year, we find that the United Kingdom has decreased her deficiency of 2,547,000 tons 'by 1,776,000 tons. The United States during the same period lias increased her ocean-going mcrean- 1 tile marine by 2-,033,0(10 tons to 12,408,000 tons. France has :been enabled to increase her tonnage by 1,001,000 tons, and so has converted a small increase of 40,000 tons into the substantial one of 1,04)1,000 tons. The percentage of the world's tonnage owned by the United Kingdom, which underwent a substantial reduction during the war, has further declined. Six years ago the United Kingdom owned 41.6 per cent, of the world's tonnage. By June of last year this percentage had been >-e----duced to 34.1 per cent., and it now represents only 33.G per cent. The United States, on the other hand, owned, six years ago, 4.7 per cent, of the world's sea-going tonnage, By last year it had increased its percentage to 20.4 per cent., and lias now further raised it to 24 per cent.