FRENCH SHIPPING BOUNTIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XI, Issue 3197, 20 October 1880, Page 2

FRENCH SHIPPING BOUNTIES.

Tlie Glasgow Shipowners' Association hay drawn up a memorial to Lord Granville on th subject, in which they mention that the Prenc Legislature are consjdeijlnga Bill which grant a navigation bounty to all French foroign-goln vessels, Bailing or steam, and that the Bill ha passed tße Lower Chambsr. They estlmat that tho bounty will yield annually about 12 pc cent, of toe value of tbe fotfoign-going ship owned in Franco and built else .-her. and aboti 11 per cent. for;approved vessels built in F'-an . They maintain that, Bhould the bl'l become 1* . It wl/llbe in .the BighOet degree prejudicio to British shipping and to the British nation that It willdrivo British snip- ont Of the Frencl over-sea carrying trade; and that, ir British built ships may become French property ani receive the run nin:' bounties, a. vast fleet o British ships will speedily ba transferred to thi French flag; and that, is these, vessels mm have French captains and the major part o their crew French, and are liablo to bo re qnlsitioned for war purposes by the Frencl Government,- a smaller number of Brltisl mastere and seamen will ba required, while ai tbe same time tho French navy and the nnmbei of thoir seamen will bo greatly increased. The memorialists mention that tho Bill also contemplates the granting of a bounty til French shipbuilders, and they have reason to believe that already overtures have been made to Brit'sh shipbuilders to establish themselves in Franco. They say that the dlvoreion of tho shipbuilding trade of this country to Franco- wonld be a national calamity, tbe consequences whoreol cannot be over estimated. They therefore urge the "avernmentto take immedlata steps to prevent. If possible, the Bill passing into law, by i making representations to the French Government. ,u«_ v v——_»—i— :■■■