WELLINGTON TOPICS.

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1923, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS.

THE SHIPOWNER

IN HIS DEFENCE

(Special to "Northern Advocate.") WELLINGTON, November 28.

A notable article in defence of the shipowner appears in the editorial columns,of the "Mercantile Gazette" this week, which deserves wider publicity than it is likely to obtain in a purely business man's paper. "Of all the interests engaged in serving NewZealand," the writer says, in opening his case, "none has received so much criticism as that of the shipowner. He has been the target of aspersions —he has been attacked, vigorously, viciously and violently, mainly by the Farmers' Ring. Scarcely a meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Farmers' Union has passed, but what the shipowner has been charged with wantonly exploiting the community. Figuratively speaking, he has been banged, thumped, and kicked, and all becaußS he is m the habit of doing his best to mind his own business and carry on under conditions that aie never favourable or even satisfactory.

. . The direct services, that is, the lines trading between the United Kingdom and New Zealand, have been the butt of the most vicious attacks by farmers and their union officials, and quite recently the president of the Farmers' Union, in referring to the election of members of the Dairy Control Board, expressed the hope that the Board, when set up would attack th-j 'Shipping Ring.'" The indictment of the critics, it will be seen, is fairly sweeping. But the writer does not confine himself to mere assertions. "The fancied grievances of the fawners against the direct shipping services originated," he continues, "during the slump of 1920-21, when produce prices crashed, and costs of transport were relatively high. The criticisms then levelled at the shipowner were so pungent, and the denunciation of his alleged greed so pronounced and insistent, that on February 18, 1921, the Government of New Zealand, through the High Commissioner, requested the Imperial Shipping Committee whicn came into cx-

istence in 1920, following a resolution of the Imperial War Conference of 1918, to investigate the following questions: —(a) Whether the current freights charged by the lines trading to New Zealand are reasonable, or otherwise; (b) If they are not reasonable, to what extent are they excessive?" The Committee set up consisted of fourteen members, of whom only five had any monetary interest at stake, and its report entirely exonerated the shipowner from the charges levelled against him, It reported in effect, that he had dealt honestly and squarely with the farmers and had not attempted to exploit any section of the community; '. ; PRIVATE ENTERPRISE. The writer admits that, the shipowners may have made handsome profits during some period of the war; "but," he a-dds, "the excess profits tax and the income tax quickly stripped them of such profits and left them beggarly." After quoting some of the aspersions cast upon the shipowner, the writer proceeds to show their incongruity. "It must be obvious to the meanest intelligence," he insists, "that if shipping profits are excessive, keen competition would immediately develop. The Governments of the United States, Canada and Australia apparently held similar views to the farmers, for they rushed into the shipping business, and are new anxious to rush out of it, after having lost .millions sterling of public money. The Poverty Bay Farmers' Meat Company was enterprising enough to buy one steamer, the Admiral Codrington, on terms. There was a brilliant banquet on board the steamer when it reached New Zealand waters, and the post-prandial oratory was of that, fulsome and noisome nature, characteristic or politicians and peoyle who fancy they can see through a brick wall. That venture in shipping helped to break the company, and it is now in liquidation." Those facts never'have been seriously challenged, and as they stand they seem to justify the writer's contentions.

After referring to high port charges and other costs borne bv the shipowner, the writer sums up decisively against his disgruntled critics. "When the whole shipping position is examined carefully, calmly and dispassionately," he says, "one cannot- help arriving itt the conclusion that the ship-' owner has served, and is serving, New Zealand in an eminently satisfactory way. It is but sufficient to mention that last year the shipping companies despatched {).*> steamers from New Zealand to Great Britain. This furnished I'racticullv a steamer every fourth day, but the seasonal trades called for more vessels at one time of the year, when the meat, wool, butter, sin .1 cheese are available, and fewer vessels in the late winter early spring. It is really time the farmers learned to value the services of the shipowner to New Zealand at their true worth. He has done his share, and a big share it has been, in developing the resources of the. Dominion. At all times, oxcapt when circumstances were beyond his control, as during the war, he has provided for the oversea, carriage of all the goods and commodities that

we desired to export and import, and his services 'have not nlwavs