A NATIONAL FLEET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8182, 13 July 1906, Page 7

A NATIONAL FLEET.

FEDERAL LINERS ADVOCATED. E3TIMATED FINANCIAL RESULTS. The following points occur in the Federal Shipping Commission's report advocating a national fleet, owned and ran by the Federal 'Government, some details of whioh scheme were cabled last week:— The pteeont subsidised mail service is chiefly maintained in the inter--ests of the commercial class, and and exporters ol perish able produce. The general community would not be materially inconvenienced by the adoption of the poundage system. A national fleet'of eight turbine steamers, 2,000 tons larger than the present boats, 16 knots eaob, costing £375,000 is recommended. A fortnightly service is estimated to cost (definite figures unobtainable), £1,207,000 yeary. Chief items of expenditure:—Interest, £90,000; cost of round tripe, at £35,500 each, £760,0p0 ; insurance, £150,000; managerial £57,000. Estimated revenue:—£l,3l9,ooo, leaving an annual profit of Details of revenue:—Subsidies, .£150,000; freight on Stale imports £100,000; passenger fares, £701,900; ordinary freights, £368,000. This is based on five months' full traffio, and seven of "off" season. The passenger receipts are estimated on the Urient Companys scale -of fares. Freight average, £2 10s per ton /to England, £2 per ton from England. Cummonwealth steamers would have a capacity of 5,600 tons of oargo each, bnt not more than 4,000 tons of cargo i 9 estimated on any trip. The shipping conference of London could not prevent a Commonwealth line getting back freights. Batter is now carried at £3 10s per ton, which rate is probably unremunerative. The national fleet would earn more if the States went in for extensive land settlement likely to attract immigrants. The offloers, engineers, and crews of the national fleet would be Australians, who wonld spend their wages in Australia. Most of the repairing would be •done here, and the fleet would be a great advertisement for the Commonwealth. The steamers would ba run primarily in the interests of the producer and consumer. Profit would be a secondary consideration. \ National steamers might carry coastal cargo. ~ All shippers, large and small, to be treated alike. At present from England to Adelaide and Fremantle are higher than from England to Melbourne and Sydney. This is unjustified. A national fleet would check exorbitant charges by private lines. Through bills of lading to be issued in co-operation with the State railways from any rail station to London. All State Railway Commissioners, except Mr George (W.A.) and Mr Tballon (Q.) disapprove of such bills of lading. The various Chambers of Commerce objected to a national line, as the Government was a less economical manager than private enterprise. The New South Wales Railway Commissioners opposed a Govern moot line of steamers. Subsidies granted to a national fleet would guarantee speed and regularity in despatch and arrival. The Government bad no experience in shipping matters, but oould purchase brains and skill a<< well us any private company. * It was very unlikely that the shipping conference in England would attempt to fight a national fleet. Intermediate boats might be established to ran via the Cape at a later stage. The British shipping conference fixed freight?, guaranteed shippers 10 per oent, deferred rebate, payable six months after shipment, provided their ships were exclusively used. Representatives of the Chambers of Commerce were opposed to Stateowned boats, but uould suggest no remedy for the deferred rebate system, which they objected to. No Australian legislation oould affect this system of rebates given in England. Both in England and Australia no new shipping firms can claim thd Tight of entrance into the shipping conference, although prepared to subscribe to all the articles of the association. All future contracts with shipping companies [should provide for white stokers only. The rate of wages and accommodation provided were reasons for white stokers' unreliability. Legislation should be passed to prohibit the unfair frebate system in an Australian coastal trade, of whioh -evidence had been given at Maryborough, Queensland. Any private contract for English mails should have a duration of at least seven years. All future postal contracts should terminate at Adelaide. A national fleet should run to no other terminal port than to London. Only turbine steamers should be employed. The commission complains that the Queensland Government did not give the assistance expected.