AMERICAN SHIPPING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 130, 5 June 1933, Page 8

AMERICAN SHIPPING

(To the Editor.) Sir, —The article entitled "A Defence of American Shipping" appearing in your Saturday's issue, and containing reports from the "New York Times" of American shipping policy makes* entertaining reading, even to anyone but elightly conversant with all the facts involved. Admiral Hutch I. Cone, newly-appointed chairman of the United States Shipping Board, says that the present ills of shipping "are not even remotely due to marine development in the United States." He denies that the United States had 'built beyond her needs, and that "the real shipping surplus exists in those countries which have built up their commercial fleets to a- point in excess of their own requirements. In order that this \surplus tonnage may be profitably employed it is sent into trades properly belonging to other nations." The general public of New Zealand and Australia should realise that this interesting propaganda does not stand the light of inspection. World tonnage has increased 43 per cent, above pre-war level, and American net tonnage increased approximately 17 per cent, between 1910 and 1"929. British tonnage stands at approximately the same figure as 1913. The United States Shipping Board's former chairman, Mr. T. V. O'Connor, who has just resigned, said recently that nothing must be allowed to prevent the United States fr.om becoming mistress of the seas, whilst Mr. Glover, the United -States Assistant Postmaster-General, in defending subsidies, stated that their chief purpose was to create a powerful merchant fleet and naval reserve. Mr. Eoseyear, a member of the Australian Parliament, whilst addressing that House on May 26 last regarding the'shipping competition, quoted an extract from the "San Francisco Chornicle," which read: "Officials of the Matson Line announce they have invested 25,000,000 dollars as a gesture, of challenge to British Empire trade." Mr. Rosevear concluded with a great plea to the Federal Government in these words: "The Americans have thrown down the challenge, and we must take it up, or otherwise abandon all hope of establishing a. mercantile marine." •The Americans certainly have employed every possible means of unfair competition, and in the words of their own Admiral Hutch I. Cone, they have sent their ships "into trades properly belonging to other nations.", —I am,'etc., CHARLES STRONG.