SHIPPING AND AVIATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19372, 9 July 1937, Page 2

SHIPPING AND AVIATION

REPORTS OP CONFERENCE NEW ZEALAND IN FOREFRONT IMPORTANT MOVES LIKELY (From a Special Correspondent) LONDON, June 15. Two Imperial Conference reports upon questions of vital importance to New of British shipping and- civil air communications —were released to the press this morning. Subsidised shipping on the Pacific route was discussed under the first heading, but finality has not yet been reached. This question is still receiving consideration. A vigorous policy embracing expansion within the territories of members of the Commonwealth, inter-communication and co-operation among members, and the seeking of reciprocal facilities in agreements with foreign countries was agreed to and emphasised by the Civil Air Communications Committee. Together with the United Kingdom, the most active part in these discussions was taken by New Zealand, particularly by the Minister of Finance, Mr. Walter-Nash, whose knowledge of the problems accompanying the maintenance of British shipping and civil aviation development gave him a distinct advantage. Recognition of this was the selection of Mr. Nash by the delegates as chairman of the shipping committee. Position of British Shipping

i The shipping committee, the report states, reviewed the position of British shipping—by which is meant all shipping registered as British wherever the registration is effected—in relation to the needs of the several parts of the British Commonwealth and. realised that the maintenance of adequate British shipping is a matter of common concern to the countries of the Commonwealth. The committee also noted that certain forms and methods of discrimination have been adopted latterly by Governments outside the Commonwealth whereby British shipping in certain areas is seriously prejudiced, if not threatened with entire elimination. • The committee recommends that in any case in which it is considered by a Commonwealth Government that undue assistance, to the serious prejudice and danger of British shipping, is being given by any foreign Government, there should be an opportunity of consultation between Commonwealth Governments to determine the validity of the complaint and the best means of meeting the situation. The committee reports that one case of difficulty arising out of the competition of subsidised ships running across the Pacific between the United States and New Zealand and Australia is under consideration by the Governments concerned—the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand—with a view to maintaining British shipping on this route. The question was referred to a sub-com-mittee representing the four Governments, which has reported that its discussions have not reached finality and the matter will continue to be dealt with by the four Governments in consultation. Imperial Shipping Committee The committee notes that the Imperial Shipping Committee is investigating the position of British shipping in Middle and Far Eastern waters, having regard to the increased competition of foreign flags, and that additional shipping statistics are being compiled in the United Kingdom. Each of the Governments represented on the committee expressed willingness in principle to arrange for similar statistics regarding their import and export trade. The committee sent forward to the conference a resolution thanking Sir Halford Maskinder v the chairman, and the members and staff of the Imperial Shipping Committee for their work, and noting that the committee has established itself as a useful instrument for co-operative examination of the shipping problems of the Commonwealth "with a tradition of unanimity now extending over 17 years." The committee recommends that the Imperial Shipping Committee should be continued on the present basis; that a representative of Burrryi would be welcomed; and that £2OOO a year should continue to be provided for its work up to March 31, 194 H. Civil Air Communications The committee on civil air communications reports that it discussed i the prospect of establishing a British I Commonwealth chain of air com--1 rnunications inter-connecting all parts 1 of the Empire and the methods of co- ! operation which might be adopted by members of the Commonwealth with this aim in view. It was arranged that the proposed air serviaes across the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean | should be discussed by representaI tives of the delegations concerned. ! The committee recommended that the conference should adopt a long resolution urging the members of the British Commonwealth of Nations to pursue a vigorous policy embracing expansion within each of their territories and inter-communication between members, anxl to co-operate with each other to the greatest possible extent.

The resolution recognises that the most effective method of co-operation and efficient organisation can best be settled in each particular case as it arises, but any method should recognise, where desired by a Government, local control not only over services operating within its own territory but also, by agreement with the other

Governments concerned, in adjacent areas in which it is particularly interested. Foreign Agreements The resolution agrees that, whenover an application received by one member for facilities for foreign air serviced is likely to affect another member, there should be consultation between the respective Governments concerned before facilities are granted. If an agreement has been reached between the Commonwealth Governments concerned as to the service to be required in return for such facilities, the Commonwealth Government to whom the foreign application has been made will use its best endeavours to .secure the reciprocal facilities agreed upon. The resolution, also notes with approval the practice followed by nations of the Commonwealth whereby, when operational rights are granted to a foreign, air line, the concession expressly 'provides for reciprocal rights as and when desired, and suggests for consideration the desirability of including in -such concessions a general safeguard of the right of the Government, at i.ts; option, to take over the ground organisation within its territory on suitable terms.