SHIPPING SLUMP

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 20

SHIPPING SLUMP

POSITION IN AMERICA. NEW YORK, June 22. Mr Sheldon, the Australian Trade Commissioner, has returned from Washington, where he found the keenest interest in t-he Imperial Conference. He found the same feeling also throughout the country during his recent trip along die coast. Summarising the observations lie made during his tour, Mr Sheldon states that he found U.S.A. coastal business depressed owing to the shipping situation. The outlook is dull throughout the Middle West, where much unemployment exists, the depression being primarily due to the railroad situation. Commenting on the shipping slump, Mr Sheldon states that the American Government realises that its method of establishing a mercantile marine is unsuited to the conditions, and its policy will now lie to transfer control to private shipowners as quickly as possible. SYD XE Y XE W ZEA LA XI) Si; r> VI CE 3. SYDNEY, June Z 4. Owing to the falling off in trade and the increasing expenditure, it is stated that important changes are pending in the New Zealand and Hobart steamship service out of Sydney. Though nothing definite is announced, it is rumoured that the Union Company and the Huddart-Parker Company are arranging for a 10-day instead of a, weekly service from Sydney to Wellington, Sydney to Auckland, and Sydney to Hobart, beginning next month. It is also stated that the Wellington boats will make Sydney their terminal port, and will not proceed to Hobart. This is in consequence of the new Navigation Act, which will operate on all boats running in the interstate trade. MELBOURNE. .Tune 24. Referring to the proposed reductions in. the shipping services, Mr Appleton, on behalf of the Interstate Shipowners’ Federation. stated that increased expenditure involved in conforming to the new Navigation Act made it impossible for shipowners to maintain some of the services at their present strength. A reduction in the services between Sydney and New Zealand and other ports was inevitable.