MINISTERS AT HOME

Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 1682, 2 June 1919, Page 7

MINISTERS AT HOME

SHIPPING REQUIREMENTS,

(Official). mi t . . LONDON, May 30. ine snipping position respecting New Zealand s needs is still fairly satisfactory, having regard to all tne circumstances. Mr Massey, whilst i« Loni during the past eight days, saw the Controller, with a view to making certain that everything possible wih being done to get tho dominion's requirements. He ascertained that there' are at least nine insulated ships set> down for July Bailings from New Zealand ports, with a clianoa of more, bu; delay and difficulties owing to strike.* and labour trouble aro no.t yet overcome. Though tho position is some what improved, there has been mucll congestion in the shipping repair yards. As many as 900 merchant ships wero awaiting repair a short time ago in Britain. In addition there were in, two ports no fewer than 180 ships idle for want of_ labour, which may seem an extraordinary fact in view of tho serious amount of unemployment in Britain. _ Shipbuilding is proceeding satisfactorily in several yards.

Speaking of unemployment at a luncheon. Mr Massey, as tho guest of the Empiro Producers, urged tho necessity for the development of shipping services lietween the overseas dominions and Britain. Something had already been done, but moro must be done to explore the possibilities of the movement towards increasing inter-Empire trade. It might ho necessary to kuV>sidiso suitable ships, but whatever happened it was in tho interests of citizens throughout tho Empire, tb"t everything possible should be dene to imnrove our (--hipping facilities. Hot 11 Ministers returned ii> Paris on Thursday night in orde,- to attend a. iilennrv session at whieli the Austrian Trentv wi|l h.-> considered, and also to attend tho nrosonlafion < I ienns to Austria on Monday