The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News The Echo and The Sun. THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1933. NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 109, 11 May 1933, Page 6

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News The Echo and The Sun.

THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1933. NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs mistano*, For the future in the distance, And the good that ve can dtj.

It is not too much to assert that, quite apart from the present disagreement, during the past two years there have been many more members of the Seamen's Union ashore than afloat. The reason is not far to seek. The position was- made abundantly clear in the series of articles published in our columns during the past few days. Not only are the New Zealand rates of pay the highest in the world, but also the manning scale is immensely greater than that of our competitors, and the employment of all classes of hands is further hedged about with overtime restrictions and other conditions that place the shipping business of this country in a position that it cannot exist against foreign competition. It is unnecessary here to go into the causes that brought . about the unfortunate state of affairs obtaining to-day;' it is sufficient to admit that they exist. Is it reasonable to expect that New Zealand ships can compete with outsiders if the costs are much higher than those of our Australian neighbours, and possibly double those of Great Britain, which in these times is finding it hard to meet foreign competition, quite apart from the comparatively new handicap of large government subsidies paid by the Italian, French and United States Governments to assist their mercantile marines The point the men require to consider is whether the New Zealand flag is to be driven from the seas or whether, under wages and conditions that provide a reasonable living, the ships lying rusting at anchor can again be commissioned. The most striking example of the loss in wages and earning power to this country is the carriage in foreign bottoms of all the phosphates used in this Dominion. This trade runs into an average of twenty cargoes annually, and competition has relentlessly driven our shipowners from participation. Again, where our trade with India, Malay and the Dutch East Indies enlployed New Zealand seamen, it has now to be carried on by a chartered vessel under British articles. Has not the time arrived to face realities? Our unemployed seamen and kindred workers could be absorbed into an industry that would benefit the whole country, but only if they are prepared to recognise that pay and conditions that exist nowhere else in the world cannot be maintained in New Zealand. With their co-operation idle keels can again plough the seas; without it the industry is doomed.