SHIPPING SERVICES

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11654, 19 October 1923, Page 5

SHIPPING SERVICES

PLANS FOR “SPEEDING-UP*' SEVEN DAYS CAN BE SAVED OS AUSTRALIAN I!IN. EXPERT ESTIMATE. Hr Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Austiahat ana ,\Z. C«t>;p Association. (Received October IS. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON October IS. Sir Halford Mackinder, chairman of the Imperial Shipping Committee, speaking at the Economic Conference, fiaid four days could be saved on the Australian voyage by using airships to Egypt, two days on the Indian Ocean hy speeding up steamships, one day at Fremantle, and a little time on the trans-continental journey. This, in the committee’s opinion, was a better scheme than paying a subsidy for a special service of steamers. QUARREL ABANDONED. Sir Halford detailed the methods whereby the Imperial Shipping Committee persuaded the Commonwealth Government Line and the Conference Line to abandon their quarrel. He had received a joint letter from Sir Kenneth Anderson and Mr L. Eva that the adoption of the system ot rebate by agreement was- working satisfactorily. Over 800 firms had feigned the agreement, which was being amended to meet the wishes of the Merchants’ Association. There were 1500 firms shipping in the Australian trade, PROFITS VERY SMALL. Sir Halford hoped that Mr Brnoo and Mr Massey would meet the representatives of the Chamber of Shipping and discuss the question of light du«e, port charges, pilotage, and quarantine expenses. He said very small profits were being made by British shipping to-day, so the question of levying income tax on shipping throughout th« Empire was most important. The Shipping Committee was also drafting its conclusions upon the methods of as- • tessmenU which it was hoped the dominion Premiers would consider.