SEABORNE TRADE VITAL TO WELFARE.

Otaki Mail, 29 March 1939, Page 1

SEABORNE TRADE VITAL TO WELFARE.

EVERYBODY'S DUTY TO PREVENT, ANY HITCH. MINISTER PRAISES ENTERPRISE BEHIND DOMINION MONARCH WELLINGTON, The important part played by ner seaborne trade in the national and economic life of New Zealand was stressed j by the Minister jf Marine, Hon. P. j Eraser, speaking at a luncheon reception \ held to-day on board the luxury liner! Dominion Monarch. His hearers, numbering some 500, included port and shipping officials, Parliamentarians and prominent Wellington citizens andbusinessmen. Anybody associated with the trade and industry of New Zealand must feel deeply indebted to all who pioneered the great" shipping lines, said Mr. Fraser, I and in particular to those who inaugur- j ated the lines peculiarly associated with New Zealand. The whole history of the j development of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company from its first humble ' sailing ship to" the present great and I magnificent liner was a wonderful example of commercial enterprise. The Minister congratulated Captain W. H. Hartman on his command. Cap- I tain Hamnan was partly, at any rate, j a citizen of Wellington, and his friends ! here had been very sorry when he de-1 cided to go to sea again, but now that he had returned in this fine ship he was doubly welcome. Industry in New Zealand depended to a great extent upon efficient loading and handling of cargoes, continued Mr. Fraser. So long as shipping was efficient and up-to-date as this liner proved it to be, and so long as the services could be carried on as expeditiously as was possible, the future prosperity of the Dominion would be assured. Such enterprise deserved the reciprocation of all concerned. The Government of the country set . out as far as was possible within the means of the country to see that every-

one of useful service to the country received an adequate living. That could not be achieved, however, unless everybody in the country, whether in the workshop, farm, or office, were willing to give of his best. Unless this were done it would not be possible to attain that standard of living that every civilised country should have, and when the means of transport was at hand to convey the country's produce, it was a betrayal for anybody not to give of his best." Mr. Fraser said it was never more necessary than at present for the voice of British solidarity to ring straight and true. He repeated the message of the Prime Minister, Hon. M. J. Savage, when he said at Auckland that whatever difficulties Britain might get into New Zealand would be witk her.