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TOO MANY SHIPS

THE POSITION AT HOME

LITTLE BUILDING GOING ON.

That the ontlbok for the British shipbuilding industry is not by any means bright was the impression gathered by Mr. C. V. Houghton, formerly manager for the New Zealand Shipping Company at Auckland, who returned by the Rimutaka from London to-day. In the course of a brief interview with a Post representative, Mr. Houghton remarked that at the present time there is far more tonnage available in the ports of the Old Country than; employment can possibly be found for. The shipbuilding industry, he said, was decidedly slack,- and there was very little activity in any of the yards. "Things have not yet settled down in the Old Country," Mr. Houhgton continued, "and everything is still more or less in a state of chaos." Generally speaking, one did not see marked signs of unemployment; except among the class which depended more or less on casual labour as a means of livelihood.

Mr. Houghton noted a tendency to-, wards a decline in shipping freights. These were easing slightly, and merchants were anticipating an „ improvement in trade with the overseas Dominions. When Mr. Houghton left Hwne trade was in a state of depression, but there were indications th,at colonial houses were about to order more freely, thus giving rise to the opinion that they were reducing their stocks of imported goods. " The last I heard from merchants before I left," stated Mr. Houghton, " was that they were receiving more orders from the colonies than they had been doing, and they were hopeful of an improvement in that_direction." Lord Northcliffe, said Mr. Houghton, had cabled to his newspapers a most glowing account of his visit to New Zealand. Considerable space was devoted to Lord Northcliffe s impressions of that part of the Dominion which he had seen, and he had expressed It* view that New Zealand appeared to be a most desirable part of the Empire in which to live.

Mr. Houghton and Mrs. Houghton will leave for Auckland to-morrow.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19220117.2.73

Bibliographic details

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 13, 17 January 1922, Page 8

Word Count
338

TOO MANY SHIPS Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 13, 17 January 1922, Page 8

TOO MANY SHIPS Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 13, 17 January 1922, Page 8