BRITAIN'S MERCANTILE MARINE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11757, 22 July 1916, Page 9

BRITAIN'S MERCANTILE MARINE.

MUST BE STRENGTHENED AND On the question of Britain's mercantile marine a writer in a liome paper makes tlie loliowmg trenchant rclllit rJi a:— A great deal of our food has to bo brougut into this country by ships iroxii overseas, and, m view of tlie Lie avy demand of the Government on our niercliant cratt lor war purposes —nearly half of tiieni are being tnus utilised—10 is higniy clesiraule that the Coveninieut siiould expedite the building of a large number 01 new vessels, 'i iitf matter lias been ciascussed in the House of Lords recently, and it is apparent that, owing to the needs of i\avy shipbuilding, most of the usual builuiiig oi merchant vessels has been held up. 1 have lately been round tho principal ports, and have satjsiicii myself that what is lacking is not lacilitics but organisation, and that both merchant ships and warships could be built m the required degree if there was coordination of effort and a strenuous business management of the whole output. I should add, to prevent any disapprehensiou, that up to the presentas much food has been brought to this country by our ships as bolero tlie nar, ;i striking demonstration of the power of our mercantile marine, iiut we have got to look to the future, and the Government will not be forgiven if it fails to make arrangements to kp«p our supply of mercantile ships up to the proper number. Food, owing to •a, variety ol -wax causes, is already at a high figure, and it will certainly go far higher if tho Government fail to give attention to the matter. Besides, we are the greatest carrying nation on earth, and when peace time comes again it would not be pleasant to find that neutral nations have taken advantages of our war activities, and robbed us by means of facilities of a lob of our sea-carrying trade. 1 see. by tlie way, that Germany also is building » great, fleet of new merchant steamer;!, with a view to collaring as much oversea trade as she can when the war comes to an end. "Y\ e must riot be left behind in this matter, although the great need now and' until the end of the war is the provision of a fleet of sufficient merchant ships to bring us regularly noeossai t \ for our existence. This is but one of the directions in which the Government, as well as the people of these islands, must strive to keep ourselves at full strength while Germany is battling for advantageous peace terms. The knowledge that slie h so battling ought to be sufficient to put tis at a tension. "V\ e aie entciiui^ 011 the last lap, and now, if ever it is necessarv to keep ourselves at full pressure. The greatest war drama of all the centuries is drawing towards its climax. Britain has been the dctei mining factor tip to the nresrut. Lot us< see to it t-hnt «he holds the snmc.positipn at the finish.

Since midnight rr.m has fallen .steadily throughout North Canterbury, and Ihe. low land's round Flaxton are partially under water. The V>aunakann is 'in high flood. At five o'ehvk the weather showed no signs of clearing. The employees of C. K. Oijey im-t in tho show-room la.-t evening vo niako a presentation to one oi. their hueleko'Vworkcrs, Private "W. H. L'ongv <;<. the ovo of his return to camp irom final leave. Private Pengeily lias Ikm-u in Mr Otley's employ for tliim-e.i vears. and was very popular Willi his mates. Ho has two brothel's at ilia front.