SEA SERVICES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 285, 14 September 1935, Page 5

SEA SERVICES

STATE-FED COMPETITION.

BRITAIN MENACED IN PACIFIC.

EMPIRE ACTION DESIRED.

(United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, September 13.

Unless some defence is afforded, the British passenger and mail service between Australia and San Francisco will be withdrawn in the next few months, declared the Hon. Alexander Shaw (chairman of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company) at a dinner aboard! the Strathmore on the occasion of her speed trials.

Mr Shaw added that there was no prospect of making ends meet under present conditions. The owners had abandoned hope of laying down new vessels. None could blame the American shipowners for taking advantage of artificial economic conditions due to the action of the American Government and the inaction of ours, but the Empire could not tolerate foreign luxury liners threatening the very existence of British lines whose survival was an economic and strategic necessity. British traffic between Australia and New Zealand) would also be wiped out unless speedily assured of fairer conditions. .

It was unfair to the Empire to allow timidity to rule its counsels while our heritage of the sea was filched away. Foreigners could not respect a seasundered Empire allowing its maritime interests to bo kicked round the room without protest. American competition also threatened the link between Canada and Australia. Surely it was unthinkable that the Dominions and British Governments would allow the snuffling out of three lines, resulting in economic embarrassment in peace anti grave danger in - war. Against the dead weight of foreign subsidies British efficiency fought in vain. Continuation of the Government inaction meant Unemployment in shipbuilding, and the associated industries, involving far greater expenditure than the comparatively small sum required to allow British lines to meet state-fed competition.

Some quarters thought that Britain was concerned only in one ocean. However, the Pacific was greater than the Atlantic and our shipping interests there could not he neglected. Shipowners were anxious not to embarrass the Empire governments but perhaps, it., was wrong not to proclaim the facts to the public who were the ultimate arbitrators. Once active steps were taken to remedy the situation in the Pacific important orders would-be given to British yards. Designs already existed on paper. The Strathmore, which had provided work for 3500 people for eighteen months, was not merely a necessary replacement but an act of faith in the Governments and) peoples of Bri- , tain and) the Empire.