FEWER BRITISH SHIPS

Southland Times, Issue 23557, 11 July 1938, Page 7

FEWER BRITISH SHIPS

TONNAGE LESS THAN IN 1914 COMPETITION OF FOREIGN SUBSIDIZED FLEETS (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) LONDON, July 8. During the debate in the House of Commons on the Board of Trade estimates it was revealed that there had been a shrinkage in British shipping tonnage. Excluding tankers, there were 2000 fewer ships than in 1914. These have been swept off the seas by foreign subsidized fleets. Mr L. S. Amery (Conservative) and Lieutenant-Com-mander R. J. Fletcher (Labour) drew attention to the position in the Pacific. Mr R. H, Cross (Conservative) interposed that discussions about the Pacific had been resumed with the Dominions and with the ironing out of the difficulties the outlook seemed reasonably hopeful for the construction of two ships. It was pointed out that the British mercantile marine, considered from the defence aspect, was not unsatisfactory, but that Britain would like to have rather more tonnage. The total British tonnage was now about the same as in 1914. In 1913 there was 20,524,000 tons and today were was 20,719,000 tons. Account, moreover, should be taken of the greatly improved loading and unloading facilities at ports and the greater carrying capacity of ships compared with 1914.

All. ships built under the “scrap-and-build” scheme were compelled to provide the best accommodation and since then the board had issued fresh instructions about the building of new ships. There must be proper sleeping accommodation. Mess rooms must be adequate and must have proper food lockers. There must be baths and showers with hot and cold water and places for drying clothes. These conditions challenged those of any country in the world and were probably the best in the world.

Replying to the debate the President of the Board of Trade (the Hon. Oliver Stanley) said: “I have taken the opportunity of getting the latest information about the standard laid down by those countries to which a reference has been made and I find that our standard is equal, and in cases superior. I deny most emphatically that the new standard which has been laid down as a result of the co-operation between all sections of the shipping industry is inferior to that laid down by any other nation in the world. As a result of the recommendation made, in the last 12 months a large number of very substantial improvements has already been made in a number of ships, and that to a large extent through the willing co-operation of the ship owners. “I would emphasize that we have done in these two years probably more to improve these conditions than has been done in a generation, that the attempt to improve old existing ships is being pressed with all the emphasis and energy we can, and that it is already meeting with a large measure of success.”