BRITISH SHIPPING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 36, 13 February 1939, Page 7

BRITISH SHIPPING

PROTECTION EFFORTS SUPPORT OF DOMINIONS DOMINION MONARCH Received Feb. 12, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 10. “I am sure the Government will not look in vain for support from the Dominions in its efforts to safeguard British shipping,” declared the president of the Board of Trade, Mr. Oliver Stanley, at a luncheon aboard the Shaw, Savill Company’s new liner Dominion Monarch to mark her entry into the England-Australia-New Zealand service. Mr. Stanley added that the Government was fully alive to the menace

of foreign subsidies and was investigating the shipping industry’s proposed safeguards in that connection. Replying to comment by Lord Essendon on the harmful methods of foreign subsidies, Mr. Stanley said that the mercantile marine was an indispensable adjunct of Empire defence, since British ships in 1937 carried 92 per cent, of British imports from and 99 per cent, of exports to the Empire. The Dominion Monarch is to pick up at Capetown 300 South Africans who will make a round voyage to Australia and New Zealand. Declaring that more widespread financial assistance was imperative to meet competition from foreign subsidised lines the United Kingdom Chamber of Shipping, according to a recent cablegram from London, has proposed to the Board of Trade: (1) Renewal of the annual tramp subsidy of £2,500,000 for five years-; (2) an annual subsidy of £5,000,000 for five years to assist deep-sea liner:, £SOXOOO a year of which is to be devoted to the nearer Continental and IledXe.rar.can services; (3) Insistence on tl.e greater use of British ships in the timber and coal trades; (4) An annuel suosUy of £500,000 for five years lor tramps in the nearer Continental trade: (5) A similar subsidy fur British coasters, and also an assurance of fair cvmpetit;on from railways. It has been pointed out that special measures apart fum line neral ones migh ultimately he necessary to save th? industry.