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New Zealand Listener, Volume 35, Issue 898, 19 October 1956, Unnumbered Page

From G painting defncting the MV Rangitiki of gfle Nezo Realand Shpping Go Ltd:, anid the fanous Jervis Bay- in the xell-knoin acttot of 5th Nozember , YKOe The link they could not break With all the strength that was in them, they tried. Every weapon they had, The Lines never forgot that New Zealand depends on them as they depend they used: aircraft; bombs; torpedoes; surface raiders mines -some of them on New Zealand: In time of peace the need for organised shipping 18 off New Zealand itself: And some success they achieved; but never once did essential: in war that need iS paramount; to New Zealand and to the whole they wholly break the link which joins New Zealand to the rest of the world British Comreonwealth of Nations Always; some ships got through. And SO the Companies decided to rebuild then, while the War still raged. This 1S not the place and neither iS there the need) to extol the men who The decision Ter both rare and courageous how couragcous is shown bv sailed the ships of the British Merchant Navy during the War But behind the fact that at least one of the war-time launchings (the motor-ship that epic of the sea, another drama was taking place in the boardrooms ol Nottingham 8,532 tons never lived to enter a Vew Kealand port. She the Companies; a drama less spectacular; but n0 Jess Vital to New Zealand. was torpedoed in the North Atlantic seven days out on her maiden vovage: Take the experience of one New Zealand company not becausc t differs But the Companies were not deterred So far as rebuilding was possible in from that of others, but rather because it doesmot difler; thc story of on� 1S those strenuous davs; 1t was continued. And although more than half the the story of all original fleets had bcen lost by the time the War ended, a steady succession Between August and December 1940, the New Zealand Shipping Company of ne vessels was coming from thc shipvards. (and its associate, the Federal Steam Navigation Company lost bv enemy The continuancc of Vew Lealand $ shipping service was thus assured. action seven ships, totalling 78; 862 tons almost one-fifth of its total fleet. But it Was not done without Cost. The British Government War Risks And, it was painfully clear; that was not to be the enc of the storv_ Insurance Scheme met part of the price -but onlv part: Upon the Lines What; then; ought the Companies to do There Was; of Coursc: the shipping individually fell thc responsibility of providing millions in order to restore Spool? through which vessels became available from the Ministry of War New Zealand $ shipping link to its former strength: That WaS the cost of Transport; But what of their OWII ships: Should thev Duild then and face keeping {aith With New Zealand the considerable risk oflosing the mnoney thus invested; O1" should they wait? and with you: Issued in the interests of mutual understanding by NEW ZEALAND OVERSEAS SHIPPING LINES SHAW SAVILL & ALBION CO: LTD THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING CO_ LTD PORT LINE LIMITED BLUE STAR LINE LIMITED