REQUISITION PLAN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20137, 5 January 1940, Page 7

REQUISITION PLAN

I EXTENSION OF SYSTEM INCREASED EFFICIENCY DECISION OF MINISTRY (KJoc. Tci. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Oflicial Wireless.) Reed. 12 noon RUGBY, Jan. 4 The Minister of -Shipping, Sir John Gilmour, has announced that in the interests of the efficient conduct of the war, he has extended the policy ol requisitioning of shipping. The-Government is satisfied that the regular execution of shipping programmes will be most effectively secured by bringing shipping under full control. Action was taken at the beginning of December to requisition for full cargoes of cereals imported on account of the Ministry of Food on the North Atlantic route, and the same system is now being applied to shipments of .all full cargoes of cereals, oil seeds, and sugar upon Government account. It is also being applied to the carriage of iron ore and certain other essential metal cargoes as part of the general application of requisition to all tramp shipping. . y

Sir John Gilmour stated to-day that he had decided to apply the policy of requisition at an early date to all ships on the United Kingdom and Colonial register engaged in deep-sea liner trades as from tire date when they complete their first discharge in the United Kingdom after the scheme comes into operation. Sir John Gilmour said that the same reasons which had been found to havi a compelling force in favour of this policy in the last war actuated him now. The withdrawal of ships from their present trades would be facilitated where that course was necessary in order to .find tonnage for a more urgent national employment. The scheme, by providing greater unity of control and identity of interest, would enable tonnage to be used more effectively and material economies of onnage would be secured. It had been arranged that discussions with representatives of the owners as to the conditions of charter and the rates of hire shall start this week.