American Shipping Competition

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7044, 31 December 1932, Page 6

American Shipping Competition

MATSON v. ORIENT LINE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 7.30 p.m. NEW YORK, Dec. 2. The New York Times’ AA’ashington correspondent says that Mr. O’Connor, chairman of the United States Shipping Board, has issued an answer to Sir Allan Anderson, tho British shipping magnate controlling the Orient Line, in which ho questions various particulars in the latter’s recent statement, especially that three new American vessols, built for service between San Francisco and Australia, were much more expensive than the trade would justify, and “that the competing British line, which cannot dip into the public purse, is unable to offer the public such costly vessels.” Mr. O’Connor said this contained much error and misrepresentation. He denied that three billion dollars had boon spent on American subsidies and declared American vessels, sinco 1921, in foreign and non-contiguous trade, have earned approximately threo billion dollars. “It is evident that the Orient Line is unable, or unwilling, to provide its patrons with ships equal to those of its American competitor,” ho added, and he calls the statement by Sir Allau Anderson “studied propaganda.”