PROPOSED SHIPPING COMPANY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3163, 15 August 1917, Page 6

PROPOSED SHIPPING COMPANY

GOVERNMENT URGED TO ACQUIRE CONTROLLING INTEREST. The AVellington l Central Chamber of Commerce has forwarded to tho Prime Minister the following letter referring to tho merging of tho Union Steam Ship Company in the P. and 0. Company, and also to tho proposal to establish a Dominion Shipping Company:— "Dear Sir, —I am directed by my council to forward you this communication having reference to the recent shipping merger between the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand and the P. and 0. Company. "My chamber regrets that the Government was not aware at an earlier stage of tho pending, merger between the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand and the T. and 0. Company. The chamber further realises'that it is too late at this stage to prevent tlio amalgamation which has taken place. . , "With regard to shipping between New Zealand and Great Britain, tho chamber, recognising that the vital interests of this country are inseparable from a frequent and reliable service, together with reasonable freight rates, urges upon the Government to assist and acquire controlling interests in the proposal to establish n Shipping Company as being tho only apparent safeguard for the future.

"Without control over shipping facilities, the chamber is of the opinion that the development and prosperity of the Dominion will be seriously hampered and its chief industries continue to be subject to the precarious conditions as the result of depending solely on private enterprise."