UNFAIR COMPETITION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17954, 5 December 1932, Page 5

UNFAIR COMPETITION

BRITISH SHIPPING SUBSIDIES RESENTED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received Dec. 5, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 4. The chartering of another Italian vessel, presumably subsidised by the Italian Government, t.o load Australian wheat, has aroused comment, and lends point to remarks by Mr Stanley Baldwin, at Sunderland, that the British owners’ serious problem was to compete with subsidised foreign ships, and that a hint that “we cannot allow our shipping to suffer from that kind of competition.” The Chamber of Shipping adopted a report of a committee advocating the abolition of all trade barriers and flag discriminations. The report mentions that inter-Empire trade normally employs only one-third of the British tonnage; therefore, there is no future for British mercantile marine unless foreign trade is re-established.

The World Economic Conference should deal with national shipping discrimination as among the most mischievous of trade barriers. If foreign nations persist in subsidies, it will bo necessary for Britain to resort to them. The committee is confidently placing before the Government suggestions for retaliatory measures.