LOSS OF BRITISH SHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16800, 16 March 1918, Page 7

LOSS OF BRITISH SHIPS.

OWNERS GREATLY CONCERNED LONDON, March 6. Speakers at a meeting of the Chamber of Shipping urged that the Government should be more candid concerning the effect of the submarine War. Lord Inchcape, chairman "of directors of the P. and 0. Company, said that man parts of the country showed a curious lack of sense as to the realities of the position. The sinking of vessels was going on at a rate of which the people had no conception. Comments on the speech of Sir Eric Geddes dwell on shipbuilding. The Times, which describes the position as exceedingly grave, believes that the flagging output is not duo to tho failure of labour in the ordinary sense, but perhaps to tho system which substituted official control for individual initiative. It suggests a searching inquiry by a body, representing the trade unions and tho employers. " " The Daily News says that the main responsibility for the mercantile marine situation rests with the Government.' The policy of secrecy has been disastrous. If the public is allowed to see and understand the naked facts, it will not bo slow to act. _ The Morning Post remarks:: The troublo in the shipyards is more serious than tho submarine war. We believe that if the men in the shipyards had" been honestly and fairly treated from the first.by th'o Government and the hordes of Government officials, they would ■■ cordially have responded. _ The Government must deal with the situation . immediately. The Daily Chronicle thinks' that the only way to get the workmen to realise how much depends on them is to give greater publicity as regards tho progress of the German submarine war .and the progress made in British and allied shipyards.