Crewmen Write On Govt. Shipping Line

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31775, 4 September 1968, Page 8

Crewmen Write On Govt. Shipping Line

Crew members of the Karamu have written to “The Press” in defence of the Australian national shipping line and urge. New Zealand to form its own national line. The Australian line had a fleet of 36 ships. Six new vessels worth s3sm were on order and under construction in Australian shipyards and included a 55,000-ton bulk ore carrier, the letter says. “The line made a net profit after tax of 8.7 per cent and has fixed assets of more than sBBm. “From time to time we read that the Australian national line is a burden on the taxpayer of Australia and we feel that people who make the statements without facts are trying to discredit the Australian national line so as to undermine any such undertaking by any future Government in New Zealand." “The results of the Australian national line for the year ending June, 1967, were:— cargo carried, 7,236,487 tons: passengers carried, 113,587; passengers’ and trade vehicles carried, 34,185: revenue from operations, $42 263,909: net profit after tax $3,109,762: percentage of net profiq after tax. 8.7 per cent: dividend of 6 per cent, $2,151,000: emplovees. 2083; fixed assets at cost, $82,555,432. The assets comprise ships ($77,249,328). land and buildings ($3,575,883), and plant and equipment ($1,729,221). “There is a passenger vessel of 8500 tons being built

which is the third passenger vessel of the line and which will supplement the operations of the Princes of Tasmania across Bass Strait. “Why would such a venture as a Government-owned shipping line be such a failure? Is it that we lack the resourcefulness of our Australian neighbours in getting things done independent of foreign control?