STATE SHIPS

Feilding Star, Volume 3, Issue 471, 26 February 1925, Page 3

STATE SHIPS

THE PROPOSED SALE. By Electric Cable—Copyright. Aust.’ and N.Z. Cable Association London, February 24. Tho Daily Herald, in commenting on Australia selling her steamers, says: “It is a triumph i'or Lord Inchcape and the shipping combine, and a blow to the Australian producers and wage-earners. The line was rendering incalculable service to the people of Australia, but from the outset, it met with bitter opposition from Inchcape’s Conference. Line, while it was paying far . better wages and giving the 'ci'ews better conditions than privately-owned lines. When the Commonwealth Line sold at knockout prices to its rivals, tho combine will be better- able to keen down wages and better able to squeeze Australian producers and the Home consumer.’’ FUTILITY OF STATE’CONTROL. London, February’24. Most newspapers give prominence to the decision to sell the Commonwealth Line of steamers. The tenor of comments is that it is furtlfer evidence of the futility of State control of shipping, which constitutes an invitation to unions to make extreme demands, to say nothing of tlio risk of political muddling. FREIGHT REDUCTIONS ON AUSTRALIAN BEEF. Sydney, February 2>. Advice , has been received bv the Overseas’ Shipping Representation

Association of a reduction, by British shipowners of freights on Australian beef of one-eightli, and one sixteenth of a penny per pound to British and Mediterranean ports respectively. “ ; '