SUBSIDISED SHIPPING

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1935, Page 7

SUBSIDISED SHIPPING

EFFECT OF COMPETITION NEW ZEALAND URGED TO ACT. DEPUTATION TO GOVERNMENT. SEAMEN FEAR CONSEQUENCES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, March 14. The hope that when the Australian Ministerial delegation visited New Zealand early in April some definite cooperative action would be taken by New Zealand and Australia with regard to competition with British shipping from subsidised' foreign shipping was expressed by' the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes in replying to a deputation from the Federated Seamen’s Union, which urged the necessity for prompt action in dealing with unfair competition of highly subsidised American vessels in the island and intercolonial trades. Mr. Forbes assured! the deputation of the Government’s interest in the matter and said it had been forcing the pace in an endeavour to secure an agreement with Australia. ' The deputation was met by Mr. Forbes and the Hon. J. G. Cobbe,' Minister of Marine. Mr. Walsh, general president of the Seamen’s Union, said that the withdrawal of the Marama and the threatened withdrawal of the Maheno were extremely serious matters to all who depended on those vessels for a livelihood. It could not be expected that shipowners would continue to run their vessels at a loss. If the present inactivity in dealing with the question continued the union was afraid that it was only a matter of time when other vessels would also be withdrawn.