MATSON LINE

Inangahua Times, 21 August 1931, Page 3

MATSON LINE

PROPOSAL TO RESTRICT OPERATIONS OPPOSED BY POSTMASTER GENERAL • (Per United Press Assn.) • WELLINGTON. Last Night. The view that steps should be takon to restrict the operations of the Matson shipping line in New ..Zealand waters is not shared by *tfie Postmas-ter-General (Mr who favours the service, on the ground that it will create healthy competition with, the Union Company to the benefit of New Zealand.

Speaking in the House tonight, the Minister said, he did not agree with the eomtention that the service should be interfered with. *He held nr brief for the Matson line, nor did he desire to sec the Union Company put off the San Francisco run, but he thought it would be a great mistake to prevent the line from operating to New Zealand.

Since the Matson line commenced, the Union Company had joined up with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company and it had been stated that steamers on the Vancouver run were to be increased in size, the speed increased and a more frequent service instituted. Why? Simply because ot the newly-introduced competition. The advent of the Matson liae must be a good thing for New Zealand. The day wa* not far distant when the United States would want to do more trade with the Dominion than at pre sent, and if we closed our ports to the Matson line, we would do ourselves an injury. He* itherefore, hoped a little more discretion should be used and tbßt the outcry against the American litfe.would not continue.