INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20923, 13 July 1931, Page 13

INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING.

Sir, —That there are men only too ready to assist the determined and announced intention of the United States of America to capture from the Empire its maritime trade seems hard to believe, but that there are is unfortunately true. The attitude of this foreign Power is determined and the following extract from tho Bulletin of American Bureau of Shipping may be read with interest by those who approve of Now Zealanders patronising tho Matson Line: —"We do not aspire to carry all our foreign trade in American bottoms, but, as Congress has twice declared, we do aim to carry 'the greater portion,' that is, over 50 per cent., for tho proper protection of our commercial and national defence interests. In the North Atlantic trade, for example, we furnish over 70 per cent, of the trade and at present carry only a little over 30 per cont. of our own freight and passenger traffic. Hence it behoves all patriotic citizens 'to ship by and sail on American ships' until we can realise 'the greater portion' of this important zone of commerce. For other routes we should have the same aspiration, always koeping in mind that the lesger portion of our enormous sea traffic will still constitute & choice morsel for our friendly rivals." If those who support this invasion could read this call for assistance tis though it were the call of the Empire, it may be well that they •take note of this extract, as one can only admire America for sticking to and supporting her own, first and always. We can afford to learn. A prominent Navy League member has mentioned that our ports are free and he has supported this foreign effort against, the red ensign. I submit his actions are not in keeping with Navy League ideas or views. His statement that our ports are free is not wholly correct. There is even now English law sufficient to stop the Matson Line trading betweon British ports, as such an Act gives this permission only to countries that provide reciprocity to our own shipping. We can at least insist on fair competition before we begin to assist foreign efforts, and we must not be surprised at our own seamen asking for assistance when their calling is gone. The British shipping industry did much to help Britain maintain a financial level during the lean times of recent years (some £140,000,000 being its average yearly incomo) and this in turn determined greatly their ability to buy our products as they did. It is no exaggeration to suggest that with our shipping industries gone, or nearly so, New Zealand would receive much less for its primary products in the Old Country. There is sufficient reason to lopk ahead before we help this determined invasion. J. H. Beale.