AMERICAN SHIPPING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 3

AMERICAN SHIPPING

SUBSIDISED LINES

UNFAIR COMPETITION

(Special to "The Evening Post.")

PALMEESTON N., This Day.

Members of tho 'Wellington Provincial Executive of the Farmers' Union are apprehensive of tho effects of the .competition of subsidised American shipping companies on British lines. At yesterday's meeting at Hunterville some discussion took place regarding the matter, and a circular showing the amount paid in subsidies to the Hatson Line was produced. The circular set out that when the new liner for this company was launched, subsidies, in so far as the Pacific trade was. concerned, would amount to approximately half a million sterling annually.

Mr. Lloyd Hammond (president) stated that if America could prohibit any but American vessels from trading between Hawaii and America, it was essential that Australia and New Zealand should do likewise. Under the existing conditions it would bo only a matter of time when the American 'ships would absorb all the freight and passenger' trade on the- Pacific. Some action was being forced upon Australia and New Zealand, and he failed to "understand why the New Zealand Government had not taken the whole question up. Mr. D. Simpson remarked that if the American subsidies were maintained there would eventually be only one line of steamers operating in these waters. * . ■ Mr. A. Amon (Bulls): And when they get iold of us it will be like the freezing companies. Mr. D. Scott (Taihape) moved that it be a recommendation to headquarters of the union to have the subject brought under the notice of the Government urging immediate action towards meeting this extraordinary competition. Mr. Amon seconded the motion. It was decided to prepare a remit for the forthcoming provincial conference in order to have the question ventilated.