THE SHIPPING QUESTION.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14153, 15 April 1916, Page 5

THE SHIPPING QUESTION.

A SERIOUS PROBLEM

Alleged official Waste-

fulness,

London, April 11

■Speaking in the House of Common*-'. Lord Robert Cecil, Under-Seeretary for Foreign' Affairs, said that tho Government was considering the question -~[ employing enemy ships which were sheltering in neutral ports. The neutral Governments must first come to a decision on the matter, taking into consideration the fact that the destruction of merchantmen affected neutral trade n.s well as that of belligerents. The Government would carefully consider any proposals from neutral Governments.

Mr. R. P. Houston, M.P., head of the Houston Line, interviewed by the "Daily Mail," said:—"The shortage of shipping threatens to cren.to the most serious problem of the war. On thi;; depends not merely tho price of foodstuffs, but whether the foodstuffs w.il ho available. 1 estimate the BritKli wartime- losses at' 940 shios, rnnrfscntmg 3,000,000 tons. Between onc-fchird and one-half of the nation's food is brought \n neutral ships, and if Go;* many frightened the neutrals, v. li.it tonnage would be loft?" Mr Houston suggests the release of all shins not needed for national service, and the seizure in neutral waters of a Gorman ship for every neutral ship sunk. Mr. Houston indicts the Government for the Admiralty's waste of tonnage- and its weak handling of the situation, and ! mentions that an expert committee re-

CABLE NEWS.

[Press Association—Cop*«*«hx;J.

eently made investigations in the Mediterranean. He would be surprised if its report were published, because it was confirmatory of the reports of the Government's foolish waste of tonnage.