New-York tribune., 1920-10-27
Government of
Canada toFigght
For Sea Trade
State Merchant Marine to
Seek to Secure Cargo That
Has Been Carried as u. S.
Com m cree Heretofore
Railroads in Combination
British Claim Jones Bill Is
Responsible for Action
on Part of the Dominion

With e considerable number Of ves-
sells on its hands as the result Of war
construction, the Canadian govern
ment is making no effort to sell them
or TO turn them over to private ship
ping companies for operation.
Such of the governments plans as
have been made public thus far in
dicate that Canada intends to link up
Its state owned railways with its ship
ping in an elaborate scheme of over
seas trade. Services have recently
been arranged for to the + ar East from
both the eastern and western coasts
Of Canada and it is believed that addi-
tional trans-ocean services will be es-
tsblished by the Dominion government
in cooperation with British lines.
In addition to viewing the situation
as an interesting experiment in gov
eminent ownership and operation Of
shipping, the British press processes
to regard it ns largely due to the
terms Of the American merchant
marine act providing for preferential
rail rates on exports and imports car
red in American vessels. Trade to be
dealt with at Montreal and Vancouver
under the new arrangement, it is
pointed out, has hitherto been handled
at American ports.
Such traffic seems to form the foun-
dation of the new services, it is stated.
but from the British viewpoint, it is
added, it Is hoped greatly to develop
the trade between Canada and the
Far East. Shipments of automobiles
agricultural machinery and other
manufacturers Will doubtless be made
from Canada, it is said, while India,
Java and the Straits Settlements are
eXpecte to send their produce to the
Dominon IN increasing quantities
lcebreakers to Aid Shipping
A drawback to the trade from the
Eastern coast Of Canada lies in the
fact that the port # Montreal is
closed to navigation in the winter. 1t
IS now urged that this condition be
overcome, however. The conference of
tne Chambers Of Commerce of the Brit
ISL Empire, held at Toronto recently,
took action in the matter Resolutions
were adopted calling to the attention
powerful steamers and icebreakers
make winter navigation in the Baltic
Itsslble. 1t vas added that there was,
therefore, no reason why the season
o. navigation in the St Lawrence
should not &c considerably extended.
Until g change has been made, winter
rtvlgatlon will be conducted through
tie ports of Halifax and St. John.
The Canadian governments fleet. as
Planned, VIII consist of more than
sixty vessels, ranging from about
rs tons TO 10.500 tons. More than
- rty Of these ships have already been
'iiiyered.
The plan oe the Canadian govern
hent IS not to put it, ships into COM
petition with old established British
lines, but to enter into agreements
With these lines whereby both interests
rrevide fixed number of ships, and
the private steamship lines place all
taelr skilled management and facili-
ties at the service of the Canadian
government .derchant Marine. In re-
tufn, the government supports the
sfeImshlp interests with its large rail
way system extending for about $4,000
For the purposes of operation the
Dominion government has formed =
united liability company, called the
N,Ihaaian Government Merchant Marine
QimIted).
New Services Established
now joint service between Van
eouver and the Far East has been ar
ranged between the Canadian Govern
ment Merchant Marine (Limited), the
jamaican National Railways and Alfred
ho!t & Co. lLimited), managers of
.ne Blue Funnel Line, providing for
sh equal number of vessels to be
owned by each steamship interest.
IN addition there has been an agree
ment between the Dominion govern
ment lines and the British India Steam
Navigation Company for Joint service
1petween eastern Canadian ports and
Ihdia, the Straits Settlements and
'aVa. Inc Cunard company has been
aeuhg as agents in Great Britain for
,ne Canadian Government Merchant
var mes vessels engaged in the
North Atlantic trade. Recently a
canadian vessel was dispatched to the
Ayant to load a cargo for Montreal
at ,he ports Of Patras, Messina, Val
encla and Malaga.
Some of the cargo which is now be
ing carried from Montreal to the East
greet would no doubt previously have
peen carried via United States ports y
says London paper "and it is quite
possible that when the St Lawrence
freezes at the end of the present sea-
son trade viii again be carried through
Ohited States ports.
1t would not be wise to emphasize
'hls connection too much. because rail-
way communications to and from the
Atlantic ports Of the United States
are as rule not as long as those
10 and from the Pacific Coast. Still.
.ne steamship companies trading with
'he Atlantic coast also cannot alto
Sether ignore the possible effects Of
Vie American merchant marine act"