PACIFIC SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 226, 20 June 1936, Page 8

PACIFIC SHIPPING

Question of Subsidies

Raised

GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE

“The Government has an open mind on the question of subsidising Pacific shipping, in association with the other Governments concerned,” said the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, in an interview la_st evening, when his attention "’as drawn to a London message stating that Canadian Pacific Steamships, Limited, was prepared to place two ships in the Pacific if the British and Dominions Governments reached an agreement regarding the subsidy. “So far we have received no request of a definite enough kind for us to be able to get a hold and do something,” Mr. Savage said. “We have no intention. however, of going into the question with our eyes shut. The nature of the service must first be considered and then full consideration must be given to the conditions as affecting all parties. We must be assured of a suitable service in return for the assistance we are asked to give. For instance, we must be certain that we will get a service which can compete with other lines.

“Naturally the question of labour conditions on the ships used in the service must be considered, and particularly the question of giving employment to New Zealanders. We want to be sure that the men employed on any service in which we are interested are working under conditions which are in accord with the New Zealand standard. Until a definite proposal has been submitted to the Government, it would be futile to discuss details, but the Government is prepared to consider concrete suggestions for the maintenance of an adequate British shipping service in the Pacific.”