Street, propounds a new plan for dealing with the shipping ring as an alternative to the proposed appeal to Bir. Chamber.
In an interview with a Daily Mail representative, Mr. Galbraith said:—"The shipping ring is not a matter for Mfc. Chamberlain to deal with, nor will any amount of talked-talked do any good. The Lord helps them that help themselves it, therefore, behoves the merchants and manufacturers to be up and doing.
"Shipping companies exist to make money, and when they are down the merchants have no mercy on them, and the show no mercy when things sre' good. have had the P.'& O. begging for freight at any price, and I have had them refuse it at any price. The ring has its advantages for merchants. Steady freights, that is to say the same rate to all comers, are good; and rebates are liked by many merchants, as they are a'' picking,' and help to keep the pot boiling.
"The P. & O. is a wonderfully well managed company; and fast boats and sailings, full or not full, cost a lot of money. When homeward freights are £1,000 to £2,000 per trip, or, say, £25,000 a year, But. no matter. The defence existe for the purpose of having money to lose.
To prevent the defence taking action god throwing away money when every in-vidual trader had a pet grievance, action {would only be taken when, say, three-fourths of the defence membership voted for it. That such a defence ring is possible I fully believe."—Hongkong Daily Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.