PACIFIC SHIPPING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23528, 17 June 1938, Page 9

PACIFIC SHIPPING

PROPpSED NEW LINERS THE CONSTRUCTION SCHEME CANADA WILLING TO JOIN (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, June 15. The Australian Associated Press understands that intimation has been received of Canada’s willingness to join in the scheme for the construction of two liners for the transpacific service. It is now hoped to convene an early meeting of English, Australian, ‘New Zealand, and Canadian governmental representatives ‘n London. The scheme has already been thoroughly thrashed out, and there should not be much further postponement of the laying down of the keels unless new difficulties are discovered. Canada’s hesitancy in sanctioning the necessary parliamentary financial measures has been the main obstruction. New Zealand’s reservations are regarded as only minor difficulties. POSITION OF DOMINIONS REFERENCES IN PARLIAMENT LONDON. June 15. Numerous references to the dominions in connection with the United States agreement and Pacific shipping were made in the House of Commons during the trade debate. Sir Percy Harris, referring to Pacific shipping, said there was a real danger of trade between America and New Zealand, and Australia going entirely from British hands. He suggested that Mr Oliver Stanley, in the negotiations with America, shoul* urge that the trade agreement should include some provision for dealing with the problem. Sir Percy, dealing with the possibility of an Anglo-American agreement, declared that the agreement between America and Canada provided the answer to criticism that an agreement was difficult with America without sacrificing the interests of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and South Africa. He proceeded to stress that New Zealand and Australia were finding it difficult to obtain a sufficient market in the British Isles for their great production of wool, meat, and butter. He suggested that the British representatives at present in the United States should not be hampered by feeling that they might injure the interests of the dominions.

Mr Oliver Stanley, at the close of the debate, admitted that the negotiations with America had been long and slow, but the subjects under discussion had been difficult and intricate. It was essential that the agreement should be fair to both sides. Dealing with the question of economic appeasement, he declared that the tariff system had come to stay.