The Mercantile Marine
On Tuesday the House of Commons showed itself keenly alive to- the fact that the Mercantile Marine is part of this country's main line of defence and to the necessity of con- structive and imaginative effort by the Minister of Shipping. The total tonnage available for ordinary shipping purposes is diminished by the diversion of some ships to naval pur- poses and others to military transport, and war-imports greatly add to the strain. The convoy system also means that the speed of ships is reduced to that of the slowest. Thus there are many factors besides U-boat action, which make it necessary that new vessels should be constructed as quickly as possible, that ships should be used to the best advantage, and that the speed of the convoys should be increased as far as possible. Neutral ship-owners are reap- ing a golden harvest from our necessities, and whilst it is necessary to see that the profiteering which occurred in the last war is not repeated it is also necessary that British ship- owners and seamen should be treated with consideration. One of the matters that especially needs swift attention is the better provision of transport for materials essential to the export trades. It is to be hoped that Sir John Gil/roar will avail himself to the full of the great experience and administrative powers of his Parliamentary Secretary, Sir Arthur Salter.
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