HOW TO FLATTER AMERICA

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 13, 15 July 1936, Page 10

HOW TO FLATTER AMERICA

"The American GovernnienL," says the Minister of Marine (Mr. P. Fraser) "cannot object if ive do the same as it has done with regard to shipping." He might have added that imitation is the sincerest flattery. Imitation would include treating the trade between New Zealand and Australia—and possibly the trade, between them and British Pacific possessions—as the United States Government treats the trade between the United States arid Hawaii. Hawaii (Honolulu) and the Sandwich Islands are further from the. United States' than is Australia from New Zealand; but, while United States subsidised liners carry passengers and goods between New Zealand and Australia,'British ships are prohibited by American law from carrying passengers or goods between the U.S. Pacific coast and Honolulu. The New Zealand Parliament, says Mr. Fraser, may have to consider whether New Zealand, the little brother, will have to follow the example of America the big brother,, by reserving (if Australia agrees) the trans-Tasman trade for British shipping. Mr. Fraser thinks that the United States Government "could not object" if the Dominion and the' Commonwealth did as America does, especially if they did it not "in a spirit of antagonism," but for "self-preserva-tion." • That is one step that could be taken. But a more imminent step is subsidising. "Subsidies are inevitable," says tlie Minister, if the threatened British Pacific lines — even, perhaps, the trans-Tasman lines—"are to be maintained." A British conference is sitting, and it is now apparently less a question of. subsidy than of terms and conditions of subsidy. Repeated labour disturbances in America and newspaper attacks on shipping companies suggest that neither the crews nor the travelling public nor the people who send cargo are satisfied with the return from the Government aid to shipping generally. Mr. Fraser evidently intends to avoid such a charge being made in New Zealand and Australia, for he states that subsidies to British shipping will not be given unconditionally. Among other tilings, the Governments at this end must have a say in "accommodation for passengers and crew," and there must be limits to fares and freights. So subsidising will be a matter of imitation with limitation —again in no antagonistic spirit. A friendly approach is necessary because, as people see every day in their own human affairs, one may disagree with his neighbour in quite important matters, but may ■ agree with.him in much larger but more latent matters, to mutual benefit. There are people who say that only British and American seapower, combined, can prevent Japanese territorial expansion into the Pacific. Their contention implies that America has not only a Pacific navy but a Pacific mercantile marine. Quite possibly one day that American ; mercantile marine will help us. But are we, therefore, to burn our own shipping in advance, on the strength of favours to come?