The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1914. GERMAN ENTERPRISE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 40, 9 June 1914, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1914. GERMAN ENTERPRISE.

The statement which was made a few weeks ago to the effect that a German line of steamships propose to trade regularly to Now Zealand, and which was confirmed by cable news last week, is received as somewhat of a sensation in the shipping world. The new line, it is understood, will run from Bremen, Antwerp, and Hamburg, via the Cape of Good Hope, making the Bluff the first port of call. The steamers will then work north to Auckland,

calling at all the principal ports. The steamers are ten thousand tons each, littod with cold storage, and their .peed is from twelve to thirteen knots. Ic is said that negotiations are on foot with the British lines trading to New Zealand, with a view to working amicably together, and avoiding a rate war. It is admitted on every, haul! that Germany for some years has been looking askance at the growth of Britain’s commerce and her supremacy in this field. From what has appeared from time to time in the German press it is pretty evident that this fact troubles Germany nearly as much as does Britain’s naval supremacy, and *o far as she can make it possible, [her attitude and policy will be a challenge of both. Throughout the world of commerce there is somewhat of a reaction in the tremendous shipping boom which, of late years, has given fullest employment to almost every vessel afloat, but steamship owners are reported to now be experiencing wine difficulty in finding lull service for their liners. The great American ■teamsliip lines have only just f'omoloted agreements consolidating their forces, and with the object of capturing a larger share ol the world’s seagoing traffic. Many shipping concerns have also been amalgamated or are working in such unison that the combinations must tend to place great power in Ike hands of these directing tinted onterpri***, a«d this sort of

thing indicates that the British and American shipping companies are by no means unaware of the activity of their continental trade rivals. Exact-j ly what the proposed direct trade be-! tween Germany and New Zealand will mean to us if it does eventuate, is not quite certain. Doubtless British ship-; owners will be able to hold their own, j and it will certainly be an advantage to the country if, as suggested, such a traffic'would mean new European markets for the Dominion’s frozen meat and dairy produce. There may.: however, arise the question of an tempt being made to run off Britishships by means of a subsidised foreign j service, and, in that event, a rate war, would be certain, though it is reasonable to suppose that our own Govern-; ment would not permit any grossly j unfair foreign competition without I taking some steps to protect Britishowned shipping.