EMPIRE SHIPPING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23224, 23 June 1937, Page 16

EMPIRE SHIPPING

Speaking at a luncheon given by 11:6 Federated Chamber of Shipping, Dr Leslie Burgin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, said that Empire shipping could be just what the Empire desired it to be. It was in no way affected by any ordinary competition which it was prepared to undertake in any part of the world. The greater part of (lie trade of the Empire was carried in British ships. Expansion of shipping under foreign flags was in many cases only part of a nationalistic commercial policy, and the increase of shipping of a foreign country in any Empire trade might be used to further trade interests of the nationals of that country to the detriment of the local British manufacturing or commercial community. By the "wangling" of freights, foreign commodities could be sold at reduced prices while secret rebates might be available to national traders. To depend on the shipping of a foreign nation might involve the risk of being left high and dry in an emergency when shipping was preoccupied with its own concerns. As regarded the maintenance of a strong mercantile marine under the British flag, there could be on divergence of interest in the different parts of the Commonwealth.