63 SHIPS TAKEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 167, 17 July 1941, Page 7

63 SHIPS TAKEN

AUSTRALIA'S MOVE Government Prepares For Emergency Lnitr-d Press Association. i"op\rijrht. Rec. 1.30 p.m. SYDNEY, this day. Sixty-three ships, engaged in interState trade in Australia, have been taken over by the Commonwealth. They will be managed as a fleet under the control of the Shipping Board.

The Minister of Commerce. Sir Earle Page, in announcing the Government's decision to-night, said the purpose was to strengthen and render Australian shipping resources capable and ready for manipulation to meet the needs of any emergency. The following companies' ships have been requisitioned:—The Adelaide Steamship Company. 16 vessels; the Australian Steamships Proprietary. Limited, 14; the Australian United Steam Navigation Company, 7; the Huddart Parker Company. 6; Mcllwraith and McEacharn. 6;* the Melbourne Steam Ship Company. 1; James Patrick and Company. Limited. 4; James Paterson and" Company Proprietary, Ltd.. 2: Inter-State Steam Ships Proprietary. 2: R. \Y. Miller and Company Proprietary. 2.

The newly-appointed High Commissioner for the I'nited Kingdom Government in Australia. Sir Ronald Cross, and his familv were warmly welcomed by members of the Federal Cabinet upon their arrival yesterday. They will stay for about a week at the State Government House before going to Canberra, where Sir Ronald will have his headquarters. Sir Ronald Cross will be the guest of honour to-night at a dinner to be given by the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzios. and he will be given a reception by the State Government on Friday.

In an interview upon his arrival. Sir Ronald stressed the need for ships, and declared, "If Australia can build ships, for Heaven's sake let us have them."

The Australian people, he added, could put. entirely out of their minds any thought that industrial interests in Britain were not anxious to see shipbuilding and other secondary industries flourish in Australia.