VITAL SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 16, 19 January 1940, Page 8

VITAL SERVICE

SHIPPING IN WAR

BRITAIN'S CONTROL

COMMENDED IN AUSTRALIA

(Froni "The Post's" Representative.)

SYDNEY, January 10,

Sir Thomas Gordon, recently appointed representative in Australia of the British Ministry of Shipping, referring to the decision df the British Government to take over control of Empire shipping, said: "What is good for the Empire is good for Australia. That system worked satisfactorily in the, Great War and there is no reason why it should npt be,successful now. It must not be forgotten that the British, Government is buying our products in huge quantities."

Sir Thomas Gordon commended Australian5 ship owners for haying had the foresight to build fast ships with the laiest refrigerating requirements for ail kinds of cargo. This foresight, he said,' was having its reward. These ships were maintaining their schedule, in' the sea routes of the world, and taking food to Britain. Their captains, th,eir officers, their engineers, and their crews were second to none in the world. "This is a vital aspect of Australia's war effdrt, which may not be generally appreciated by the average person," he said. "But, the work goes on day and night. No effort is proving too great for the men.

"Since the war began," said Sir Thomas Gordon* "Australia, has been doing a grand job on the seas. There has been close , co-operation among ship owners. There must be close cooperation in all phases of shipping for success. We look to the waterside workers to load and unload "ships as expeSitiously as possible, and we feel confident that they will do a splendid job.' Now,, as never before in the Empire's history, smooth working and co-operation are vital."

Sir Thomas Gordon, who said that Australian shipping today was in a much better position than in 1914, spoke from long experience. From 1914 to 1918 he was a member of the central committee which dealt with the allotment of tonnage loading in Australia, and he was chairman of the subsidiary space allotment committee. He said he looked forward to the. time when Australia would build her .own ships, at least for coastwise trade. He said that this country' had the men with the skill and the materials to turn out a ship that would equal anything produced elsewhere. "I have unbounded confidence in the,ability of Australia," he said, "to tackle any problems- successfully."

No authority in Australia has had greater experience of shipping in the international sphere *fchan Sir Thomas Gordon. For 40 years he has engaged in oversea shipping/and has studied its problems' closely. He knows intimately problems associated with shipping to the United Kingdom, to the East, to the United States, to the Continent. He is chairman and managing director of Birt and Co. Pty., Ltd., a director of many other companies, and is a member of the Commonwealth Shipping Control Board. ,

The Federal Government is believed to be considering the use of several vessels in the interstate trade for the transport of Australian exports overseas. At present the Department of Commercejs making a general survey of the shipping position, and will probably make recommendations to the Economic Cabinet. The problem of finding adequate cargo space for exports has become difficult, and the use of interstate vessels has been advanced as a solution. Other suggestions include proposals that Australia should purchase American tramp steamers, and that an effort should be made to obtain the use through American shipping lines of freighters withdrawn from routes that have been affected by the war. .