Shipping Shortages Are

World Wide

rE world shipping shortage, caused by the recent war, is seriously affect ing world trade. Australia, being so far from the markets in Europe and America, is at a greater disadvantage than most countries, and it is essential that every square foot of shipping space should be used to the best advantage.

A recent announcement in the press quoted an authority as saying that the current hold-up of Dutch ships in Aus tralian waters is preventing seven ships with a carrying capacity of 24,000 tons from leaving our snores every six weeks.

These vessels are waiting to carry ship ments of goods purchased from Australia by the Dutch and on return would bring to this country many of the products of the N.E.I. that have been in such short supply during the war years.

Whilst these hold-ups continue, our trade with the countries of the Pacific, so valuable to Australia’s export future, is suffering and Australian workers are be ing deprived of the jobs that this trade would make available in Australia.

It is tragic to think that a small group of anti-Dutch Communists should be in a position to cause Australia’s economy and prestige such harm and neutralise the valuable cargo-carrying potential of these Dutch vessels.

Contributed by Ceigoa Pty., Ltd. (Con solidated Export and Import Group of Australia), 54 Oxford Street, Sydney.