British Shipping and Shipbuilding A very disquieting debate in the
House of Commons last Friday on the condition of the British mercantile marine was followed by the equally disquieting quarterly returns of Lloyd's Register last Tuesday on the number of merchant ships under construction. Our total tonnage, which before the War was 44 per cent. of the world's, is now- only 28 per cent. ; and the vessels under construction at the end of June were less by 162,9oo tons than a year ago. Though in total tonnage and in ship-building we 'still lead the world, our lead is steadily diminishing ; we are worse off both absolutely and relatively. This is due partly to high costs, but still more to subsidies and other protective devices applied by foreign countries. But to no country are the shipping indus- tries so vital as they are to us. They are essential to our trade in time of peace ; they are a condition of our existence in time of war. So far as war is concerned, there is not only the question of the number of ships, but the no less essential question of the number of seamen. That an economic war, as Mr. Amery said, is being waged against us is a fact which we are bound to recognise ; but our position as large importers should enable us to make better terms for ourselves without resorting to extremes of economic nationalism.
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