EMPIRE CONGRESS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 5 October 1936, Page 4

EMPIRE CONGRESS

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE BUSINESS SESSIONS COMMENCED SUBSIDIES TO SHIPPING .’•By Telegraph—Pr<*Bß Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. The congress of the Chambers of Commerce of the British Empire commenced the business sessions to-day. The first subject was subsidies to shipping, several resolutions being embodied in one to the effect that while reaffirming adherence to the principle of free, unrestricted and unsubsidised ocean transport services, it recommends to the governments of the United Kingdom and the Dominions that-' trade facilities to foreign shipping trading between Empire ports should only be granted to the shipping of those countries giving similar facilities to Empire shipping, and that they should, whether by subsidy or otherwise. afford such assistance as would enable the British mercantile marine to remain, as in the past, one of the greatest bulwarks of the Empire, whether in peace or war. The mover of the resolution was Mr Spencer Watts (Sydney), who particularly emphasised that what they wanted to get was similar- treatment as that met out to others—in .other words, application of the golden rule. They would prefer to have no discrimination against any flag provided! there was none against them. :

The seconder was Mr Seaman (Auckland) who dealt particularly with the disabilities being suffered by British shipping in the Pacific through America’s subsidies The resolution was supported by the Australian and New Zealand delegates. Sir T. Wilford put forth a suggestion that Britain as the World’s biggest purchaser, should use its purchasing power to secure equality to shipping. She had the power if she had the will,

OPPOSITE VIEWS EXPRESSED Mr Jones (Cardiff, Swansea and South Wales), expressed the wish that the problem was as simple as the supporters of the resolution made it ap-. pear. He made the point that there was a grave danger by retaliation in. the Pacific. They might drive the American nation into competition with shipowners in other parts of the world. Britain had been lending money cheaply, abroad to build ships that were not required and that brought its own Nemesis in the end. What they should aim at was .increased trade among the British peoples. Mr Gibson (Leeds), strongly opposed this view. He thought that Mr Jones had overlooked their reaffirmation in the resolution of freedom in ocean transport. Mr Gibson agreed with Sir Thomas Wilford that British shipping in the Pacific must be maintained!

Mr Paxton (Sydney) gave the his- > tory of the Vancouver and San Francisco services and made the point that the main trouble was the suitability of competing ships for the passenger trade. He hoped that the resolution a< would be carried unanimously, just as it was worded. WELLINGTON, This. Day. The shipping resolution was carried . with one dissentient.