SUBSIDISED SHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 3000, 19 December 1935, Page 17

SUBSIDISED SHIPS.

ATTITUDE OF GOVERNMENT.

BRITISH LINES PROTECTION.

(By Telegraph. —Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

An indication of tlie attitude the Government proposed to adopt in dealing with the problem of subsidised shipping was given by the Minister of Marine, the Hon. P. Eraser, when speaking at a social function, held at the conclusion of the Wellington" Harbour Board's meeting to-night. "We cannot agree to stand by idly and allow our ships to be driven off the sea," said the Minister. "We are an island nation. Part of our life is on tlio sea —it is the very breath of life in many of our industries and it is a source of employment to our people-. We have to consider how we can strengthen our mercantile marine. ■ The question is receiving the careful attention of the Government, with a view to cooperating with those concerned, not in a spirit of antagonism toward any competitor. I don't think anything we do will be construed in that way, because we want to live on good terms with all Pacific nations. "But we have to consider as a domestic duty to .our own people how we can maintain our ships trading across the Pacific and the Tasman. We want to be fair to all concerned, foui in our desire to be fair to others we are not going to be unfair to ourselves and our own country. That will be the view the Government will take. We ask for the help and assistance of all concerned, even those who, perhaps unconsciously, may be the means of making things difficult for us." !!'«SI4T