SHIPPING IN PACIFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 144, 19 June 1940, Page 6

SHIPPING IN PACIFIC.

The Joes of the Niagara will have ft very serious effect both upon our communications overseas. and upon our export and import trade with Canada and the United States. That trade has of course been seriously interfered with by war conditions and import restrictions, but the balance which still goes on is of essential importance. The Niagara was one of the most important units in maintaining the connection between New Zealand and North America, and no time must be lost in replacing her by a vessel of sufficient tonnage and with suitable accommodation. The British Ministry of Shipping is in control of all the merchant steamers in the Atlantic; it has had many additions to its fleet not only from the shipyards but also from ships from Norway, Holland, Denmark and Belgium which have sheltered in Empire ports, and from captured German and Italian ships. We in New Zealand are aware of Britain's dependence upon her merchant marine, and of the needs of troop transport, but from the tremendous accumulation of tonnage now under the British flag it should be possible ior the Ministry-to take immediate stepe to ensure that a vital connection between this far-off Dominion and the outer world Lj not left at half its j necessary strength. A°tion should be taken promptly by our Government to ensure that the loss will be made good at the earliest moment.