SHIPPING SUBSIDIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22403, 27 April 1936, Page 12

SHIPPING SUBSIDIES

BRITISH POLICY STATED MAINTAINING EMPIRE ROUTES LONDON, April 23 "Let me say as clearly as I can that the Government intends to maintain Empire shipping routes." This categorical statement by Dr. E. L. Burgin, Mr. Walter Runciman's lieutenant at the Board of Trade, in a speech at Hull, constitutes the most favourable Government utterance to date in regard to shipping. Dr. Burgin added: "We are gravely concerned at the possibility of the United States subsidy seriously interfering with Empire routes, but the gravity of the situation does not necessarily mean that the best remedy is the short cut by adopting subsidies. There might be some other method. "Many people urge restricting coastal shipping to the British flag or subsidising Britisih coastal lines. That also is a big problem. British vessels carry a large part of the world's coastal trade. The old doctrine of 'tit for tat' might prevail if we commenced reserving coastal shipping." The Sun-Herald news service says that, in spite of Dr. Burgin's hesitancy concerning the best method of dealing with Pacific shipping, the representatives of the Dominions who are participating in the current discussions in London are confident of an eventual agreement in favour of a subsidy, and emphasise that this is the only satisfactory way of meeting the problem. Moreover, Mr. Runciman now is much more in favour of a subsidy. However, he desires more comprehensive details, including finances, before approaching a, decision. The Daily Mail says: "The Government has made promise after promise in the past two years to aid British linesinthe Pacific, but nothing has been done. It is an immense disappointment that Ministers hesitate to act. Dr. Burgin has definitely discouraged the idea of counter-subsidising British lines. If there is any real alternative tho country ought to bo told what it is We ought W) act effectively now."