PACIFIC SHIPPING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23014, 16 April 1938, Page 12

PACIFIC SHIPPING

Besides giving very sound reasons why established shipping lines which fly the British flag should not be allowed to perish because of heavily subsidised competition, Lord Craigmyle, chairman of the P. and O. Company, has shown that the position regarding new Pacific liners is still in its old condition of stalemate. The delay in placing orders for these vessels was not, he said, the fault of the companies. He then indicated, with a descending degree of emphasis, that the Governments were all disposed to be helpful. In spite of this, nothing has been done, ancl there is no appearance of anything being done in the near future. All that Lord Craigmyle said about the Governments is qualified by his previous statement that other nations have a merchant shipping policy, but the British have none. The truth of this is lamentably proved by the long delay over the Pacific services. It does not speak well for Empire co-operation that the proposed assistance to the line operating between Canada, New Zealand and Australia should be so long postponed. The British Government, chiefly concerned through general anxiety for ■ the future of merchant shipping, has given a suificiently definite undertaking to help, but cannot possibly be expected to do everything. The three Dominions are directly interested, yet it is among them that the delay seems to have originated. From time to time there have been assurances that obstacles were being removed, and that agreement was at hand. It is time now that definite information was given, showing just why there has been this failure to safeguard shipping services which could not be discontinued without cx-eating a perilous gap in the chain of Empire communications.