COMMONWEALTH LINE.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 73, 26 March 1919, Page 5

COMMONWEALTH LINE.

A PERMANENT INSTITUTION. LONDON, March 25. It is officially stated that the Commonwealth Shipping Line intends trading permanently. Further sailings froiu British and other ports will be announced shortly. Mr G. Larkin has not learned of any change in the conference policy. He assumes that shipment by the Commonwealth's steamers will involve the forfeiture of freight rebates. Mr Larkin will meet the Australian Merchants' Association on Wednesday, He says he believes it will be easy to convince British manufacturers and Australian importers that they will be serving their own interests by supporting the Commonwealth line. MELBOURNE, March 25. The Minister of Shipping states that the Commonwealth Government has no intention of sitting down quietly and allowing itself to be squeezed out by the shipping ring. It considers that no country in the world is likely to suffer more than Australia through the action of the shipping ring. An extension of the shipbuilding programme cf the Federal Government, by the construction of four more steel vessels, will shortly receive consideration, from the Cabinet. The vessels will be of 10,000 tons each, fitted with refrigerating space, and developing a speed of 12;} knots. SYDNEY, March 25. Tlie Delungra, the rfirst Commonwealth ship built at Walsh Island, has been launched. Her keel was laid on September 6. She is of the Isherwood type, with a cargo capacity of 5,500 tons deadweight.— (A. and" N.Z. Cable.)