VITAL SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22357, 2 March 1936, Page 10

VITAL SERVICES

MERCANTILE MARINE EFFICIENCY ESSENTIAL IMPORTANCE TO EMPIRE POSITION IN PACIFIC By TelesTaph—Press Association—Copyright (Received March 1, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 20 Sir Vernon Thomson, in his presidential address to the Chamber of Shipping, emphasised the importance to Britain and the Dominions of maintaining an efficient mercantile marine. He laid stress on the fact that Britain normally had only eight weeks' food supplies. Sums allocated to the maintenance of the mercantile marine were a trifling price to prevent disintrcgation. The ' effective tonnage was only 14,000,000 gross, compared with 16,000,000 in 1914. The share which foreign vessels had taken in the United Kingdom's trade had risen steadily from 34.5 per cent in 1929 to 41.8 per cent last year. The Associated Press says it understands that when the Pacific position is considered in London only Government representatives will attend the conferences. Shipping interests, however, will supply all the information required, but in the meanwhile are reluctant to make public statements. Sir Vernon Thomson is chairman of the King Line, Limited, also of the London Maritime Investment Company, Limited, and deputy-chairman and joint, managing director of the Union-Castle Mail Steam Ship Company, Lftnited. He was appointed last year chairman of the Tramp Shipping Subsidy Committee. He is a member of the committee of Lloyd's Register of Shipping.