EMPIRE SHIPPING.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15310, 10 August 1923, Page 2

EMPIRE SHIPPING.

BRITAIN'S TRADE.

WORTH STRIVING FOR.

A WELLINGTON RESOLUTION

The necessity for subsidising private enterprise in shipping in order to stimulate trade within the Empire was stressed at the meeting or the Wellington Chamber of Commerce. Mr. 11. D. Bennett, introducing the subject declared that it might truly be said that shipping provided the channels for the circulation of the blood of the Empire. While shipping should always be in the hands of private enterprise, substantial assistance should be given to the companies who provided ships to carry our produce. Ho quoted statistics showing from whence Great Britain was drawing her imports, and claimed that much of this could be supplied by the Dominion, particularly in bacon and pork. The United States and the Argentine were getting the bulk of Britain's trade. Why was this? he asked. If it was due to the shipping, let the shipping people and the producers come together and sec what could be done. Britain's trade was worth striving for. There was hardly a shipping company in tho world to-day which was paying. Trade had fallen off enormously, and thousands of ships had been tied up. The development of oil-burners was a. thing which would have to he closely watched. It was a question of how long Britain, with her generous ways could stand up to the tariff walls raised by other countries. In Great Britain lhe.ro was a latent feeling thai, the Mother Country should be linked up with the Dominions by Empire shipping. He moved:— "That the Wellington Chamber of Commerce urges upon the. Prime Minister tho necessity of making Empire Shipping a subject lo he kept well to the front in the discussion on Empire economics al the British Empire Conference."

Mr D. ,T. McOowan seconded the motion, stating that lie agreed with Mr Bennett thai Great Britain's trade was worth going for. Mr E. M. Luke said that until we got a hic'S'er population and until we produced more Tor export, we would he much in the position we were in today. If the trade was offering they could rely upon British shipping companies to pick it up. We should be very guarded in advocating Government subsidies to shipping companies. The motion on being put, was carried unanimously.