12. Vice-Admiral TAYLORasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can make any statement with regard to the future of the British shipping services in the Pacific plying between the Dominions and the United States of America?
§ 18. Lord APSLEYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any statement to make regarding the discussions which have been taking place about 1573 the position of British shipping services in the Pacific?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand have agreed to ask the Imperial Shipping Committee to report
- (a) As to the traffic possibilities of a British passenger and cargo service between Western Canada and Australia-New Zealand;
- (b) Whether a service on lines suggested by the shipping interests concerned would be appropriate in view of the traffic possibilities and any other shipping facilities available; and, if not, what kind of service would be appropriate;
- (c) As to the probable financial results of such a service, taking into account the financial results of the working of the existing British services between San Francisco and Australia-New Zealand and Vancouver and Australia-New Zealand;
- (d) Whether such a service would have any ill effects on any other British shipping interests.
A request has accordingly been addressed to the Chairman of the Imperial Shipping Committee, who has called a meeting for this afternoon to begin their consideration of the matter.
Vice-Admiral TAYLORWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for his answer I would like to ask him, respecting the present British shipping services in the Pacific, whether it is not a fact that unless a Government subsidy is given to the companies they will be unable to continue in face of the American subsidised shipping lines, and that the services will have to be abandoned?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThat is one of the questions which the committee will inquire into at an early date.
§ Mr. BENJAMIN SMITHWill not the right hon. Gentleman consider taking over and nationalising the whole of the shipping industry and so save the subsidies?