BRITAIN’S MERCHANT SHIPPING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 243, 11 July 1938, Page 11

BRITAIN’S MERCHANT SHIPPING

Satisfactory From The Defence Aspect

NEED FOR INCREASED

TONNAGE

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, July 8.

In a debate in the House of Commons on merchant shipping, when the Board of Trade estimates were before the House, it was pointed out that the British mercantile marine, considered from the defence aspect, is not unsatisfactory, but that Britain would like to have rather more tonnage.

The total British tonnage is now about the same-as in 1914. In 1913 there were 20,542,000 tons, and today there are 20,719,000 tons. It was stressed in the debate that account should 'be taken of the greatlyimproved loading and unloading facilities at the ports and the greater carrying capacity of ships compared with 1914. All ships built under the scrap and build scheme were compelled to provide the best accommodation, and since then the board has Issued fresh instructions about the building of new ships. , . In these new ships there must be proper sleeping accommodation. The mess-rooms must be adequate and haveproper food lockers. There must be baths, showers with hot and cold water, and places for drying clothes. These conditions challenge those of any country in the world and are probably the best in the world.

Replying to the debate, the President of the Board of Trade, Mr. Oliver Stanley, said: “I have taken the opportunity of getting the latest information in regard to the standard laid down by those countries to which a reference has been made, and I find that our standard is equal, and in many cases superior. “I deny most emphatically that the new standard which has-been laid down as a result of co-operation between all sections of the shipping industry is inferior to that laid down by any other nation in the world.

“As a result of recommendations made in the last 12 months, a large number of very substantial improvements has already been made in a number of ships and that to a large extent has been due to the willing co-operation of the ship owners I have a long list of ships of up to 9000 tons which the owners are reconstructing to give conditions almost as good as those laid down in the instructions for new ships. “I would emphasise that we have done in these two years probably more to improve these conditions than has been done in a generation, that the attempt to improve old existing ships is .being pressed with all the emphasis and energy we can, and that it is already meeting with a large measure of success.” BRITISH SHIPS FOR THE PACIFIC Outlook Hopeful

London, July 8.

In the course of the Board of Trade estimates debate in the House of Commons to-day, Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery (Conservative), and Lieutenant-Com-mander R. T. H. Pletcher (Labour) drew attention to the position of Pacific shipping. Mr. R. H. Cross interposed that discussions on the subject had been resumed with the Dominions with a view to ironing out difficulties and that the outlook seemed to be reasonably hopeful for the construction of two ships.