SHIPPING COMPETITION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 238, 8 October 1935, Page 6

SHIPPING COMPETITION.

11l reply to Mr. 11. E. Vaile, and speaking ns a member of the nautical profession, I would like to point out that British shipping is not afraid of foreign competition provided that it is on a fair basis. The competition with the Matson Line is doubly unfair. In the first place the enormous subsidy paid to them by the U.S. Government enables them to run a service with which it is impossible to compete, with non-subsidised ships. If the British ships were subsidised on the 6ame basis their fares could be reduced, too. In the second place, we allow the American ships to carry passengers between Auckland and Sydney, but the American Government does not allow British ships to carry passengers or cargo between Honolulu and the U.S.A., or, indeed, between any American ports. Does Mr. Vaile pretend to call this a fair deal? We do not object to the Matson ships carrying their share of the trade to and from America, but we do object to their intrusion into the trade between British Dominions while we are excluded from the trade between American possessions. I cannot agree that the Matson service is "infinitely superior." Certainly their ships are larger and more modern than the Marama, for instance, but they arc not superior to the Monowai. However, the Union Company's new vessel, which will be in service next year, will bo definitely finer than any other ship on the Tasman run. The British merchant marine has played a .tremendous part in building our Empire, and does its best to live up to the traditions of efficiency and service it has built up. Given a fair deal, we are not afraid of foreign competition. It is well for British people, especially ourselves in the Dominions, to remem*. her how much we owe to the British merchant, marine. Remembering this, most British peopla prefer to travel under the Red Ensign. C. E. H. BESS.