SHIPPING IN THE PACIFIC

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22300, 14 January 1938, Page 10

SHIPPING IN THE PACIFIC

ALLEGATIONS ABOUT NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY (rilU ASSOCIATION TXLXG&AX.) WELLINGTON, January 13. "This is all a misrepresentation of th position. We have not changed our attitude at all," said the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage) in an interview this evening, when his attention was drawn to an article in the London shipping journal, "Syren and Shipping Illustrated," of December 8, alleging that New Zealand was the obstructionist party causing the delay in living effect to the Imperial Shipping Committee's recommendations for a trans-Pacific service. The article stated that the stage was being approached at whica orders for the two projected liners would have been placed, when New Zealand dropped her'bombshell. A hitch had occurred because New Zealand had suddenly decided that she wanted one of the two vessels to be registered in the Dominion. "We want British shipping lines in the Pacific run under conditions that we can be proud of. That is all," Mr Savage said. "We are not going to accept anything, either for seamen or passengers. "The people who are responsive for this charge are ready to stictc pins into anyone for the sake of getting something done. I do not ooject to that; but I do object to tne blame being placed where it does not belong. I wonder how people would say the ships ° u §™. be built, whatever the cost is. brnpbuilding is a costly thing t°- d: *>; and that is playing a greater pa.t in holding things up than anytnir., else probably. Our discussions on conditions for seamen were dental to the whole th:r.g._ i- "';* something that might have ocea expected bv any government \\ major thing at the finrsnwas ui type of ship we wanted, and its clunder present-day condition*, think most governments wou-aao mit that the present lugn pricw h a ve increased the difficulties.