PACIFIC SHIPPING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22974, 28 February 1938, Page 10

PACIFIC SHIPPING

The report that Canada has decided to appropriate 6,000,000 dollars toward a modernised shipping service in the Pacific is the first that has been heard for a considerable time about an important subject. The Imperial Shipping Committee reported on it at the beginning of December, 1936. It had before it a note saying that the Canadian-Australasian Company had in view the building of two liners costing £2,500,000 or more. The committee was optimistic in its finding on the prospect for operating these vessels in the Vancouver service, but had nothing to say about the question of State assistance, either by subsidy or in any other form. That, however, is regarded as essential by the company if it is' to withstand liberally subsidised competition. This is the isslie that has to be faced by the four Governments concerned, those of Great Britain — for Britain has undertaken to cooperate with the others —Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The question was discussed at the Imperial Conference, held last year, and a further committee was set up to consider final details. Those details have apparently required a great deal of settlement. When the Australian Minister of Customs visited this country in December, his arrival was welcomed as affording an opportunity to discuss questions of Pacific shipping, an indication that the six months since the Imperial Conference had not brought agreement. It is now suggested that Canada is to act because a general agreement has been reached. It is to .be hoped it is so, and that soon competition will be met in the only effective way, by offering speed, comfort and service, equal to, or better than, that given by the rivals of the British company in the Pacific. According to Mr. Nash's view the prospect is now much improved.