BRITISH SHIPPING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21845, 6 July 1934, Page 11

BRITISH SHIPPING

SUBSIDY PROPOSALS A QUALIFIED WELCOME British Wireless RUGBY, July 4 A somewhat qualified welcome has been given in shipping circles and the press to the Government's scheme for an effective subsidy of £2,000,000. to help British tramp shipping. f . It is argued in some quarters that the proposals are inadequate and are troubled by too many restrictions, and that the arrangements with foreign Governments whose subsidies to their own shipping have intensified the problem could only be made after British shipping itself had been equipped with a bargaining weapon in the way of a subsidy.

On the other hand, it is argued that the clearly declared resolve of the Government not to allow British ships and sailors to be reduced to idleness and to meet subsidy with subsidy means that some specific agreement can be quickly evolved, and constitutes a very definite bargaining weapon. There is little likelihood of legislation authorising the payment of the subsidy until the autumn. The interval will bo employed by shipping in fulfilling the conditions of reorganisation required by the Government. The Times says: "No one in the British shipping world likes the subsidy, but the point has been reached where it has become necessary to fight subsidy with subsidy if the British shipping industry is to have anything like fair treatment. " Tbe Government is not giving tramp-owners all they would like, or even all that many impartial observers think is necessary. What it is doing is proof that it recognises its responsibility for the preservation of the vital common interest.

" The shipowners for their part welcome this encouragement, and may bo trusted to do all they can to make effective the help promised and to fulfil the conditions which the Government necessarily attaches to the offer.