THE RUMORED SHIPPING MERGER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4815, 12 March 1918, Page 7

THE RUMORED SHIPPING MERGER.

CONNECTED WITH COAL CONTRACT. MELBOURNE. February 28. The reported shipping merger was widely discussed in shipping circles yesterday. The Sydney' offices of the companies concerned denied any knowledge of the proposed amalgamation, but, nevertheless, there is good ground for believing that the merger is being negotiated. It is. believed that the negotiations have been the outcome cf tho recent Victorian Government coal contract. The three companies mentioned—Australian Steamships, Ltd, Huddnrt 'Parker. Ltd., and the Adelaide Steamship Co., Ltd—are all interested in coal, especially Australian Steamships, Ltd. and Hud dart Parker, Ltd.; the latter company, in fact, has done the bulk of the Victorian trade for over twenty years. Each of these companies would easily he able to compete with Messrs J. Brown and Co., but it is ‘believed that with the assistance of oacli other, specially as regards colliers, the position would he made more secure by the elimination of competition. One report which gained currency yesterday was that there jviU be a mutual understanding regarding the supply of coal and tho chartering of vessels. A fact which was made the subject of much suggestion was the presence of Captain Langley .Webb in Melbourne bos'been construed to mean that he is there to give his advice and guidance in connections with the negotiations.