SHIPPING LOSSES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24506, 15 January 1941, Page 6

SHIPPING LOSSES

REPLACEMENT PROBLEM AUSTRALIAN PRO^OSAIDECENTRALISED MANUFACTURE (From Our Own -Correspondent) : SYDNEY, Jan. 1L Various schemes by. which Australia can assist in offsetting the depletion of commercial shipping. by* enemy action are being considered by ,thel Federal Cabinet. . . , - . ■.":..'; . Foreihost' of these is the - hastening of the establishment of. the, shipbuilding industry by the assembly of.' ships at'• ,centi»lised .slips .from .materials manufactured in large : quantises at. a number of engineering-plants... It is suggested --.thai riierchant shipbuilding could in that'way follow the general plan adopted in Australia- in.* the manufacture of aircraft. A survey of engineering; workshops to • determine the capacity-of yarious establishments for .making ship parts andtfttings is to be made soon' by the Government. Other .proposals are for the building of wbpden- §hips:,and of ships- with wood and steel and concrete hulls.- " • ; '..v Offer©*' Eprtijntdwnecl Ship* '■;',•'*£ • The Minister ioiy.the Navy, Mr W. M. Hughes. revealetf/thal the Government had been offered a number of owned ships. The prices asked;were high, but in these•: times- price. was purely relative .to demand, he said. The offers had been transmitted "to the proper: authorities- ~' ;:->. ■:■■ ... .Mr Hughes said that the demand was for ships now—not ships in the future. They must be coristructed-as quickly as possible, otherwise' Great Britain would suffer. She required. 50,000 tons of • food a -day and oil'-for the expanding war machine. An air force superior to Germany's would be of little value, in six months ..without ships ;to transport fuel, >• ■•':." ■.'., ■ ■■*■•■ v': 'fj* . ■ . ... The establishment of the. shipbuilding industry would have the.support of the unions. The secretary .of the Boilermakers' Union. Mr G. Sinclair, urged an .immediate, conference of practical men as a means: of; paving the way.. ■. ■ ■ •;■•■ .. '■.■>* '-\ . V Attitude of Unions ; "If Mr Hughes; will*convene a conr ference of rrien who know*the business, instead of gettirig'silly ideas from persons who do'" riot leave \ their -offices. Mr Sinclair said, "we will givei him some practical advice, which may- be of assistance to him. and probably bf value to the country; We have already guaranteed him -against; a shortage of labour; arid if ; he organises in a way.' through those .who understand the position, he will be able to bbtain the workmen to do the job;" ..:• ■■.;' .-. Officials of other key unions\stated that; they were prepared to > co-operate with-the Government. The secretary of the Shipwrights' Union.. Mr R Ja'cksonv said: " We" agree with Mr Hughesjj when he says that- the demand is for ships now. but we disagree, with him.when lie adds 'riot, ships in. the future.' We want.' ships built fnere after the war; as well::as'^ during;the war. We jvould be preparedv(b;,co? ooerate with the: Government .in devising ways' means .to assist Britain to -the.' utmostt arid w'e { will-discuss dilution of labour if the Government will discuss future Tshipbuildmg.'" ■>~ •'•.'