SCARCITY OF SHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16763, 1 February 1918, Page 5

SCARCITY OF SHIPS.

AUCKLAND BUILDER'S QUEST DIFFICULTIES OF THE TRADE. " Tin; position is simply this—that in New Zealand and Australia we are trying to work up the old hulks, or obsolete vesesls, that have been laid aside owing to their infirmities, and see if we can make them seaworthy for a couple of years, at any rate, to carry on the commerce under the war stress. We must persist in that policy, too." In these words Mr. W. H. Brown, shipbuilder of Auckland, who has been on a visit to Sydney recently, summarised the shipping position. Mr. Brown is, to use his own words, "on an expedition " for vessels, that can be refitted to meet the prevailing stress. The material for shipbuilding, Mr. Brown said in an interview with a Sydney Morning Herald representative, is. the principal problem before the Australasian shipbuilders; and he mentions ship plates as one instance. Before the war the price for these was £12 10s per ton; now they are £70 per ton. Aad, so far as New i Zealand is concerned, the shortage of labour is having an effect. Mr. Brown does not think the shiDbuilding scheme of the Commonwealth possible of realisation, because the cost of materials will be greater than can be reasonably paid. "It is," he said. " impossible to procure the material. The Home Government has prohibited the ex-1 portation of nearly everything required in shipbuilding. Neither Australia nor New Zealand could attemot the building of timber ships," he continued. " but it Australia, as was anticipated, could produce a great deal of the ironwork the possibilities would be considerably enhanced. All the same, there are timber difficulties in the way, for shipbuilding required long lengths, and these to any quantity had to be imported. A special grievance on the part of Auckland shipbuilders which has been discussed on previous occasions was mentioned by Mr. Brown. "The Australian Government," he said, "has a duty of 25 per cent, on imported ships, whilst Australianbuilt ships are admitted to the Dominion free of such impost." Mr. Brown mentioned as an instance of how this operated that last vear he built a vessel on " spec," and not getting a buyer in New Zealand he placed the offer in Australia. Three or four firms were willing to buy, but when they found the duty would amount to £2500 business was " off." Simultaneously the Auckland City Council bought two vessels from Sydney, and they were admitted to the Dominion duty free. "This restriction on the part of Australia," Mr. Brown added, " does not contribute to reciprocity." Moreover, he pointed out that whilst much Australian timber—such as ironbark— required for the foundation of ships, New_ Zealand had enormous supplies of kauri, which was largely used in all vessels, and so was in a position advantageously to co-operate with the Commonwealth.