COMMONWEALTH SHIPPING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17205, 5 July 1919, Page 9

COMMONWEALTH SHIPPING.

DEVELOPMENT PROMISED. MERCHANTS UNFAVOURABLE. A. and N.Z. LONDON. July 3. Mr. George Larkin, director of the Commonwealth Shipping Line, informed the Australasian Merchant? Association that the Com- '. monwealth line intended to supplement and ultimately replace the present fleet with fast, modern, up-to-date steamers. Moreover, in the event of a breach with the eonfer- , ence lines, which he sincerely hoped j would not arise, and which he was I taking every reasonable precaution j to avoid, a regular and frequent service between the United Kingdom ' and Australia- would be provided. i Stable rates of freight would be • maintained, and shippers guaranteed ! against loss by forfeiture of rebates J provided th«*y in turn promised the i Commonwealth line the first offer of i their bupines.'. ! A leading Anglo-Australian merj chant, interviewed, stated that the | prevailing opinion among Australian ! merchants in London was against | the Commonwealth Government j Shipping Line on the. fundamental ' ground that Government trading was i undesirable, hut it was also believed ; that the venture would be harmful i because of its unsettling effect on ' trad'': between Britain and Austrai ha. The two principal needs were j the lowest possible rates and stable i rates. Merchants d>d not believe i that the Government had mum ' prospect of competing with the esj tablished lines, because the existing ! fleet was quite unsuitable, and a. I large loan would be necessary to I build a fleet. London financiers j were not likel> to assist the Austra- | ban Government against private j enterprise. | ft is not yet known whether Mr. i Larkins's offer will modify the attii Hide of the merchants.