PACIFIC SHIPPING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23529, 18 June 1938, Page 14

PACIFIC SHIPPING

Nearly two years have elapsed since the Imperial Shipping Committee, to which the matter was referred by the Governments interested, reported on proposals for the inauguration of an up-to-date passenger steamer service under the British flag as a step essential for the meeting of heavily subsidised American shipping competition in the Pacific. The committee’s report was favourable, and the two proposed liners could have been built then much more economically than is possible at the present time. In an editorial reference at the conclusion of the last Imperial Confer-

enco the Dally Telegraph observed that this gathering of British statesmen would be memorable for the determination not to allow British shipping to be driven out of the Pacific. It is to be regretted that the evidence of determination has not been such as to prevent another year from slipping away while still the project lingers in the stage that it is being considered. The two new liners that are contemplated have not yet begun to materialise, except on paper. It was reported some months ago that tenders had been invited for their construction, but it was explained that this was a routine part of the negotiations, and did not imply that an early start was necessarily to be made with the building of the vessels. Liners of 30,000 tons, costing £2,000,000 apiece, are not built in a day. In the most promising circumstances, therefore, the initiation of the improved service must still stand deferred for a considerable period. The causes of all this delay are not very clear. The blame has been cast at different times on both the New Zealand Government and the Canadian Government. A month or two ago the principal stumbling block was said to be a difficulty over the passage of legislation enabling the Canadian Government to make its financial contribution towards the execution of the plan. This week a message from London on the subject is couched in a more sanguine tone. The Australian Associated Press “understands” that an intimation has been received of Canada’s willingness to participate in the scheme for the construction of two liners for .the Pacific service, and it is now hoped to convene an early meeting in London of representatives of the four Governments interested. The hesitancy of Canada in sanctioning the parliamentary financial measures is described again as the main obstructive factor, while the New Zealand Government’s reservations are said to be regarded as “only minor difficulties.” There should, we are invited to believe, not be much further postponement of the laying down of the keels of the new liners, unless new difficulties are discovered. Unfortunately this is all still in a conjectural vein. It is to be trusted that it is a really well-grounded impression which is conveyed that it is all now fairly plain sailing for the Governments concerned to go ahead with their project, and that no new difficulties will present themselves, for experience in the past has shown what fresh obstacles would probably entail in the way of more delay. It cannot be deemed that the consideration accorded to what was represented three years ago as an urgent problem affecting British shipping interests has been other than most leisurely. Empire dilatoriness has meant that the project to re-establish British shipping prestige in the Pacific has been held in suspense for a period that would have sufficed to permit of the necessary vessels being constructed. In the meantime the . American subsidised liners continue to attract the passenger traffic by reason of their acknowledged superiority to any steamers competing with them. It will be most disappointing if the prospect that is now held out of a final arrangement satisfactory to all four Empire Governments concerned should prove again to, be illusory.