REQUISITIONING OF SHIPPING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 5, 6 January 1940, Page 4

REQUISITIONING OF SHIPPING

POLICY EXTENDED FINDING TONNAGE FOR URGENT NATONAL NEEDS [ British Ollicial Wireless ] RUGBx, Jan. 4. The Minister of Shipping, Sir John Gilmour, has announced that in the interests of the efficient conduct of the war he has extended the policy ol requisitioning of shipping. The Government is satisfied that regular execution of shipping programmes will be most effectively secured by bringing shipping under full control. Action was taken at the beginning of December to requisition for lull cargoes of cereals imported on account of the Ministry of Food on the North Atlantic route and the same system is now being applied to shipments of all full cargoes of cereals, oil seeds, and sugar on Government account. It is also being applied to the carriage of iron ore and certain otheressential metal cargoes as part of the general application of requisition to all tramp shipping. Sir John Gilmour stated to-day that he had decided to apply a policy of requisition at an early date to all ships on the United kingdom and colonial register engaged in deep-sea liner trades as from the date when they finish their first discharge in the United Kingdom after the scheme comes into operation. He said that the same reasons which had been found to have a compelled force ir. favour of this policy in the iast war actuated him now. Withdrawal of ships from their present trades would be faciitated where that course was necessary in order to find tonnage for more urgent national employment. The scheme, by providing greater unity of control and identity of interest would enable tonnage to be used more effectively and material economies of tonnage to be secured, he said. It had been arranged that discussions with representatives of the owners as to the conditions of charter and rates of hire should start this week.