BRITISH SHIPPING

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21148, 16 July 1943, Page 4

BRITISH SHIPPING

POST-WAR POLICY

CO-OPERATION WITH U.S.

NATION’S DEBT TO SEAMEN

(By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 15.

Outlining Britain’s merchant shipping policy after the war, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, Mr. P. J. NoelBaker, in the House of Commons, said it would be a disaster for the United Nations to enter upon the post-war period as rivals and opponents. Together, they could solve this gigantic programme. Opposed, none could solve it. “The post-war prosperity of our fleets must depend on a great expansion of international trade, and I believe that expansion is going to come about. If we changed the organisation of the shipping industry, we would have to nationalise it properly by Act of Parliament. The Government is not now proposing it and has not made a decision. They would have to hand over the ships at the end of a fixed period unless a new decision was arrived at by Parliament. Immediately after the war we should need arrangements for the joint control and use of shipping of the world of a very close kind. The collaboration among the United Nations must be comnarable with that, we had in the War. The Government was determined to avoid the blunders committed after the last war. The United Nations had already committed themselves to the principle of collaboration and had agreed in September, 1941. that control should be continued. Instructions lor detailed plans to be prepared had been given and obeyed. A great, deal of preparatory work had been- done. The Government was resolved to play a leading part and would be guided bv a sense of heavy responsibility that would be on the shipping powers to ensure that the policies should serve the interests of all traders and cus(omers throughout the world. Mr'"Noel Baker added that the Merchant Navy’s Training Board had drawn uo a report on entry training of boys. The education would be vocational but not purely. No bov would be debarred from any part, of the training on financial grounds and nothing would stand in the way of any suitable deck boy or rating becoming an officer. U.S. Saved Situation Twice Britain at the outbreak of war had about 20,000,000 tons of merchant shipping, but she could not expect to have- more than 9,000,000 when the war ended, said„ Mr. E. Shinwell (Lab.). The United States entered the war with 7,000,000 tons of merchant shipping, and would have at least 15,000,000 and possibly 30,000,000 when the war ended. “We are dealing with the America of big business' which believes in using its huge reserves to develop an investment policy all over the world into which their shipping policy will be fitted” he said. “Our 9.000,000 tons will not be able to talk on equal terms with their great tonnage- oi very speedy, efficient and highly subsidised shipping. The British Government must frame a long-term, farsighted policy.” Mix Shinwell suggested that the Government should experiment m nationalisation by taking over the ocean carriage of fruit and meat. ' "The United States has treated us with'' generous understanding,” said Mr. Noel Baker. “We can never express our gratitude for their shipping programme, which is winning thewai. We believe that we can work witn the United States in peace as in war. Sir Arthur Salter, joint Parlir.memary Secretary to the Ministry of War Transport, replying for the Government, said that he regarded tne United States shipping output witn gratitude and joy. The shipping situation twice during the war was so serious that it threatened the whole issue of the war. The United States had twice restored the balance. Sir Arthur Salter expressed tne opinion that at present it would be unwise for Britain to state any postwar plans for the mercantile marine.