DIVERSION OF STEAMERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16583, 5 July 1917, Page 4

DIVERSION OF STEAMERS

STRUGGLE FOR RETENTION.

PRIME MINISTER'S EFFORTS.

fI)T TBLRGRArn—SrECIiIi CORSESrOJfDEST.]

WELLINGTON, Wednesday. TitE importance of the service rendered by the New Zealand Ministers while at Home with regard to providing shipping space for the Dominion's produce, is disclosed in veryinteresting correspondence between the Prime Minister, the Hon. W. F. Massey, and Sir Joseph P. McLay, Controller of British Shipping. This correspondence began on March 27 last, when Mr. Massey wrote an urgent letter to the controller pointing out that Sir James Allen had cabled the information that the British Board of Trade had diverted to tho American trade two steamers, regular New Zealand traders, which had been definitely allotted to tho Dominion for tho May loading. Two days later Sir Joseph P. Mac Lay replied to the effect that what had been done had been done because the national safety required it. Ho added: "An adequate food supply is a matter of life and death for our people, and as against this no consideration of commercial detriment can for a moment be weighed." He emphasised that tho gravity of the conditions made necessary the transfer of steamers from the more distant to tho more adjacent sources of supply in order to augment essential imports. Ho ' was quite unable to hold out any hope that the withdrawals could bo cancelled or that these represented the limit of what would bo necessary in the same direction. *

Writing to Mr. Massey on April 3 the Controller of Shipping explained that it had been found necessary to place in the River Plate trade for one or more voyages five insulated steamers usually trading to Australasia, in addition to four others. A 8 Mr. Ma^ t) had admitted at the conference, the safety of the army, which in this instance was involved, must prevail over all other considerate; there was therefore no alternative to the expedient adopted.

Oo April 5 Mr. Massey wrote to the Minister for Shipping entering the most emphatic protest against the diversion of the five steamers to the River Plate trade, and ho mentioned that he could not help thinking that the news as to the diversion of five steamers would be good news for the meat trusts. He also wrote to the Bight Hon. Walter H. Long, Secretary of State for the Colonies, and said that a very important point in connection with this unfair treatment to New Zealand was the fact that the ImDerial Government had_ requisitioned the wholo of the Dominion's output of frozen meat until the end of the war. If adequate facilities were \ not provided for bringing the meat away, the citizens of the Dominion would natur- ( ally consider that what was tantamount tea breach of faith was being committed. The Shipping Controller a few days later wrote to Mr. Masser stating he was afraid there was no hope of any decisive relief in the near future, but that everything possible was being done to relieve the situation. Mr. Walter Long again wrote to Mr. Massey emphasising that the position with regard to food was so critical that tho only possible policy was to get the necessary food and corn "to Britain as speedily as possible. Thin was the justification for the preference given to the bouth American meat suppliers on account of the quicker voyage, which meant doubung the amount of imports with the same amount of shipping. It was really a question whether the food supply at the front was to be imperilled. He suggested that this should be pointed out to the New Zealand people who, he felt certain, would cheerfully accept the sacrifice like every other sacrifice they had been ailed upon

On May 14 Sir Joseph McLay wrote to Mr. Masßey as follows:-"The plain fact is. that the situation in regard to the supply of tonnage must get worse before it acts better, and further inroads must immediately be made on the fleets trading to Australasia in • order to provide for imperative national needs nearer home these, steps are taken with the greatest .•possible regret and reluotance and I should like to pay my tribute to the unremitting eloquence ant' force with which you have kept before us the hardships resulting to New Zealand, and the appreciation which wo all feel here for the invaluable information with which you have always kept us furnished. If anything could heighten our sense of the sen-ice which New Zealand has rendered to the common cause, it would be the cheerful readiness with which the people of the Dominion have acquiesced in these further sacrifices." j

BUILDING OP FREIGHT-CARRIERS. [BT O-ELEGRAI'D-SPECIAI, CORBESFOXDIOT.] WELLINGTON. Wednesday. Mr. C. H. Poolo (Auckland West) intends to ask the Minister for Marine whether ho will discuss with his colleagues the necessity for building ships under Imperial subsidy in New Zealand, therebyproviding for lost freight-carriers, and at the same time reviving an Industry in which our colonial shipwrights have excelled. Mr. Poole states that America has under construction 1000 ships, in order to assist the allies, and the timber areas are under tribute for this work. New Zealand has splendid timber, and welltrained men, and any effort to quicken an old coloni.-,! industry will bo appreciated by many skilled men, who at present find it hard to get employment.