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New Zealand Listener, Volume 35, Issue 893, 14 September 1956, Unnumbered Page

From 0 fvatttltng dcpicting: ttie A. Rangitiki Of thie Aeze Realand smuphng Go. Ltd:, and the am1olaS Jervis Bay 1 the well-knotn action of 5lh Noieniber , 49fU. The link they could not break With all the strength that Was in them, they tried Every weapon thev had, The Lines never forgot that Vew Zealand depends on them as they depend thcy used aircralt. bombs, torpedoes; surface raiders. mines some of them on New Zealand: In time of peace the need for organised shipping iS off New Zealand itself: And some success they achieved: but never once did essential: in war that need iS paramount; to New Kealand and to thc whole they wholly break the link which joins New Zealand to the rest of the world British Commonwealth of Vations Always; some ships got through. And So the Companies decided t0 rebuild then. while the War still raged. This S not the place and neither iS there the need) to extol the men who The decision was both rare and couragcous how courageous iS shown by sailed the ships of the British Merchant Navy during the WVar: But behind the fact that at Jeast onc of the war-time launchings the motor-ship that epic of the sea another drama was taking place in the boardrooms of Vottingham 8.532 tons nerer lived to enter a New Zealand port She the Companies, a drama less spectacular; but n0 less Vital t0 New" Lealand was torpedoed inl the Vorth Atlantic seven days out on her maiden voyage Take the experience of one New Lealand company not because it diflers But te Companies Werc not deterred. So far as rebuilding Was possible in from that of others; but rather because it docs t difler; thc story of one 1S those strenuous days; it Was continued And although more than half the the story of all original fleets had been lost bv the time the War ended. a steady successon Between August and December 1040, the New Zealand Shipping Company of new vessels Tas coming from the shipyards (and its associate, the Federal Steam Navigation Company lost bv enemy The continuance ol Vew Lealand $ shipping service was thus assured. action seven ships; totalling 78,862 tons almost one-fifth of its total flect. But it was not done without cost The British Government War Risks And; it was painfully clear; that was not t0 be the end of the storv Insurance Scheme met part of thc price but onlv part Upon the Lincs What. then; ought the Companies to do ? There Was: of course the shipping individually fell the responsibility of providing millions in order [0 restorc 'pool' through which vessels became available from the Ministry of War Ncw Zealand $ shipping link t0 its former strength. That was thic cost of Transport: But what of their ow ships ? Should they build then and face keeping faith with Vew Lealand the considerable risk oflosing the monev thus invested; or should they wait? and with yuu: Issued in the interests of mutual understanding by NEW ZEALAND OVERSEAS SHIPPING LINES SHAW SAVILL & ALBION CO: LTD THE NEW ZEALAND SHPPING CO. LTD PORT LINE LIMITED BLUE STAR LINE LIMITED