AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Grey River Argus, 25 August 1945, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

AUSTRALIAN-BUILT SHIPS SYDNEY, Aug. 24. The Federal Cabinet will soon permit Australian shipping companies to operate Commonwealth-owned and built ships, says a “Daily Telegraph” political writer. The Government will fix the period for which these ships will be operated by the companies. Senior Ministers at present oppose the proposals made recently that the Commonwealth should again own and manage a shipping line. They wish to see what the world tonnage position will be a year after the war before deciding whether to go into the ship management business or whether to charter Government vessels to private enterprise. It is expected that nine 10.000-ton merchant vessels built to Government specifications during the war will soon be available for charter by private companies. The Cabinet will also consider soon the means of keeping in steady operation shipyards created during the war. The Minister for the Army (Mr Forde) announced that more than 30,000 Army vehicles will become available for sale through the Commission within the next few weeks. More than 10,000 motor vehicles have already been sold to the public. WARSHIPS AT SYDNEY SYDNEY, Aug. 24. Crowds lined Sydney foreshores early to-day to watch the arrival of units of the British Fleet which recently took part in the final assault on Japan. Five British warships’arrived with two aircraft-carriers, the “Implacable” and “Formidable, 51 ’ escorted by the destroyers “Undine,” ’“Urchine” and “Grenville,” with Rear Admiral Vian in command. Avengers and Corsairs of the returning units landed at a New South Wales air

statoin yesterday. Another British carrier the “Victorious,” with the destroyer “Urama” is due in Sydney this afternoon.