TRAMP SHIPPING SUBSIDY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21714, 22 February 1936, Page 15

TRAMP SHIPPING SUBSIDY

FOREIGN COMPETITION IN PACIFIC SECOND READING OF HLL (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) '(Received February 21, 7.46 p.m.) RUGBY, February 20. The president of the Board of Trade (Mr Walter Runciman), moving the second reading in the House of Commons of the Government's Bill'to continue the.subsidy to tramp shipping, amounting to £2,000,000,-and to make.eligible for tk grant certain vessels which pre©tisly had been excluded, said that <& national grounds every effort must ba made to preserve in efficiency tramp shipping,' which was one of the most valuable elements in the British mercantile marine. Mr Runciman reviewed the year's working of the subsidy and claimed that.it had brought a benefit to all shipping interests. He commented with pleasure on the agreement reached by the National Maritime Board for the restoration of cuts in the seamen's wages. The rejection of the bill was moved for the Labour Opposition by Mr E. Shinwell, who contended that no case, had been made for the continued expenditure of public money towards- the promotion of private interests. Sir, Robert Home supported the Ml, which, he held, was justified by the necessity of meeting subsidised foreign competition which had been driving Eritish ships off the seas. He,said lie sincerely hoped that Main was hot going to lose her Joe in the Pacific entirely, and Jhat the flag* was not going to be nauled down. "It would be an admission that eur glory at sea had departed," he W. "The Pacific lines have been Wendid and have performed a TO function for the-Empire in we past. The situation has been yenorating. One of the lines has My given U p, and the other is f a .condition of considerable Jeopardy." .Sir Robert referred to the subJf m the Honolulu privileges of je Matson Line. He said that the K was grievous. He believed' 2.T Runciman was sympathetic Jjwrds the action, and hoped that *e Government would respond. fc *ne second reading of the bill *» carried by 234 votes to 126.