A VITAL FACTOR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26782, 27 May 1948, Page 5

A VITAL FACTOR

FULL USE OF SHIPPING BRITAIN’S TRADE BALANCE N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent EDINBURGH, May 25. The importance of production and of the full use of shipping to the standard of living of the people of Britain was emphasised by the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr W. J. Jordan, in a speech after the launching of the Union Steam Ship Company’s Konui at Leith dockyard, Edinburgh. After comparing the difference in the trade balances of Britain and the United States—in 1946, Britain had a deficit of £336,000,000 and in 1947 a deficit of £591,000,000 while the United States had favourable balances of £1,200,000,000 each year—Mr Jordan referred to the vital importance of shipping to Britain “Those who do their work best are rendering a service to the Commonwealth,” he said. “We know that there are troubles with ships being delayed and that those we do get are not being worked to full capacity.” _ During the war, he recalled, Britain had lost ships by bombs and torpedoes at sea. “So far as the people of Britain are concerned,” he declared, “there is no immediate difference between a ship being bombed and a ship being hung up in an overseas I hope,” he added, “ that there will be an improvement in shipping in order that there can be an improvement in Britain’s balance of trade. Miss Wootton Launches Konui The launching ceremony was performed by Miss Mary Wootton who is making her first visit to Scotland Miss Wootton smashed a beribboned bottle against the Konui’s plates, then nipped smartly round to the bow to press a bell on a table. Immediately there was the hammering of chocks being knocked away and, the ship began to slide slowly to sea ■ Miss Wootton, who has become universally popular among those who met her in Britain for her unassuming charm, performed her duties gracefully and made a great impression among the shipyard workers. During the speeches Miss Wootton was presented by one of the builders. Mr Henry Robb, sen., with a silver casket incorporating engravings of the Konui and Edinburgh Castle. . Mr I. N Greenland, deputy-chair-man of the U.S.S. Company, announced that the company had ordered one special 6000-ton motor vessel from the Robbs and also one from Alexander Stephens, of Glasgow. The Konui, he said, had a dead-weight carrying capacity of 3000 tons, with a speed of 10 knots, and was one of six ships now being built for the company by the Robbs.