THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1957.

Pare

}

SHIPPING

END OF THE LIBERTY SHIP?

Does the prosent slump in shipping freights herald the end of the Liberty

This type cargo ship? question la being ponder- ed by shipowner every

for in depressed where, times such as now the ulder, slower ships

a profit make not break even on operating

costs.

this year 162 shipu had been

-DI

handed over to private com- panies and Government agencies in the United States, but many of these have now been turned to mothballs with the swing of the freight pendulum. UNSEAWORTHY

Many experts bollere, the this reserve`ilicet majority of

to be unseaworthy, and this leaves apan to question the United States policy of retain- can-ing the ships. Even in the last

acknow~ war the Liberty was

edged as a marginal type, the

best that could be mass produced in a time of critical need.

+

re-

Since the end of the war, the

This problem of obsolescence Liberty has been the workhorse

has been worrying the United of the oceans, willing to carry

States and has

Marillme Administra- anything anywhere,

L'on, To meet further require made fortunes for many ship-

ments the Administration as the trend of But owners.

built for larger, faster ships apccifle trades has developed it has become increasingly obvious block of large the that

ships will standard war-built have to be retired before long.

The Liberty

competitive;

ently drafind & programme for the construction of 300 new

д

slips over a 15-year period on the general basis of 20 ships a year, which will be handed over to subsidised lines.

The Administration is engag- to see if the longer Ing in research la no

fucl its

reserve fleet could be of any heavy

all in

futuro an ad- usc わし consumption alone 1s

Three

Laberties verse facter, owing to the con-emergency.

taken out of moth- have been tinual increase in bunker costs.

balls and equipped with a new The traditional shipowner Genumental about

his ships, and different type of power

plant. In

a gleam onu ship

been sub. turbine unit has stituted for the reciprocating plant.

is

though probably he would not admit it, and many will see the as the passing of the Liberty end of an era in sea transport

albeit a profitable one.

WARTIME INSPIRATION

The Allies' urgent need for cargo ships in the last war design and mass inspired the production of the Liberty type Oceans, and its variants--the Parks and Forts.

The second ship was leng- thened, provided with a new bow and atted with diesel machinery. The bull and bow of the third chip were altered in

similar fashion, but for propulston there was installed an open-cycle gas turbine unit. A fourth ship has been atted with free piston gas genera for turbine.

more

M

There have been teething The generic type on which

troubles in all four ships, but these chips were based was a

It is

is reported that none have cargo ship designed by Joseph

been

serious

than ex- L. Thompson and Sons at their

pected, while operating North Shields shipyard, and the

perience has shown

the con- hugo

American programme

Successful sprang from this design. The versions table below shows the

ships built, the ber of these salient characteristics of the Liberty being: Gross 7,200;

deadweight

גום

to ba

Initially.

tonnage, MOTOR VESSEL FOR

tonnage, 10,400-10,800 tons; machinery,

single-screw steam reciprocat AUSTRALIA ROUTE

ing engines, providing a speed of 9-10 knots. In addition, there were the Oceans,

the

Forta (Canadian-bullt Liber ties), all based on the Liberty,

STANDARD WAR-BUILT SIIPS No. Bulli (PP. Type

Liberty

Ocean

Fort

Park

Victory

2,036

60

200

110

430

The motor

London. vessel Koolama, has been launched from the Leven yard of William Denny. and Brothers Ltd. It has been bullt for the State Shipping Service of the Government of Western Australia.

TRADE

and

COMMERCE

SECTION

A BUSINESSMAN SPEAKS OUT

46

Sound Monetary

Discipline

Must Be Restored”

[By Philip Cortney, President, Coty, Inc. Chairman, United States Council of the International Chamber of Commerce.]

New York, Nov. 12.

NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE

HONGKONG

STOCK EXCHANGE

Railroads Set New

Average Low

New York, Nov. 12.

Stocks drifted lower through most of today's ses- sion, and then suffered a sharp break on in- creased volume just before closing.

Railroad issucă set a new average low since May 3, 1954. The 1030

recently strong missile Issues encountered realising in

Our Own Correspondent Business done on the Hong- kong Stock Exchange this morn Ing_amounted to approximately $370,000. Noon quotations and this morning's transactions were:

Shares Buyers kölietu

HK Bank

INSURANCES Union XD

Wheelocks

K. Whort

'vident_10) LAND, ETC.

..

A25 270

74

10070

0.70 1,000 @ B.TO

119

31

11.70

14 14.20 200 14.40 1000120 2313314 2040 60 339%

133 10,000 1,3235

2,030 1.325

If the non-Communist world is to meet DANKS

the threat of Soviet missiles and other technical achievements, it must SHIPPING ba prepared to use every means! DOCKS, ETC. available to it. One area in which Dock

is the tel .. time waste restoration of sound monetary dis- Lend cipline ultimately leading to convermag. XD

stableILITIES of currencies tibility

we

must

oxchange rates.

no

and

RUBEJ

Tram .... Star Ferry.. Yaumati

22 22.50 600 8 27.20

most instances,

Sunshine Mining Sur & Cu.

Texas Co.

Textron Inc. .... Tide Water Asin. Oli

Twenty Century Fax Film Union Carbide",

Unton Oil of Cal.

Union Paclic Railway United Aircraft US. You D

1.5. Сурди

Chemicals turned weak with losses running to two ponds. Qils iell more than two in some instances. Tyres were of true-U.S. Lng Co. tions to two points. Metals US Rubber

US. Emelting joined the declined with a fow U.S. Stee exceptions which recorded miner gains.

Long List

Wer orde

Wratinghouse Electric

West Va. Pulp & Paper Woolworth

nited Pres

2716

EL

NEW YORK

COTTON MARKET

Now York, Nov. 12.

Cotton futuros movod higher

today with the nearby 1956 deliveries the best galners. Trading was "activa.

At the close, the lat ruled 22 dɔly points higher to three points 301% lower with the nearby Decem- 221 ber, Match, May end July deli- 50% veries at nëw highs for the sea-

New son.

Orleans futures Ginished 18 to 23 points higher,

Prices advanced

the outset

on accumulated overnight buy- 34g orders which were credited mill accounts.

334 mostly to texile mil

Serie-up

selling and recent buyers sup- realision by 38% piled the contracts,

Trade and commission house buying extended gains, but new

crop

Point LONDON STOCK Egged on the upturn

A long list of specials feil one to more than two points. Steels fell with U.S. Steel off -Losses in the 1300 1

rails ranged to) around two points in Atlantic Coast line.

Without monetary discipline, there can be no ex- c. Light (0) 17.00-10.30 200 30.10

Without in-c. Light (N) pansion of international trade.

ternational trade, the non-Communist world Electric cannot mobilise its industrial strength to meet Mac z... this Soviet challenge. This danger affects the Telephon United States as well as nations in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa.

INDUSTRIALS Cement ...

127

1

17.30 18311.20 20,70 100 20.00 25.40

20.00

10.40

25 25.20

*.70

23.10

1,000 25.10

We had better make up our minds what kind of STORES, ETC.

world we want. The very existence of a free Dalry 5.50 world depends on the kind of money and Watson monetary system it has.

INVESTMENTS

COTTONS Texilie Nanyang Many obstacles to trade and, of international trade policy. MISCELLANEOUR investment aro the result of This is a serious matter for all HK Coas unstable exchange rates and it nations but it is especially Allled 3.7 3.00. is impractical and absurd to portant to the world's greatest nation, tho United rote trading think of using exchange variations continuously and States.

systematically to correct mal- adjustinguts in balances of pay- ments.

Sound domestic

1

policies are the essential kyestone to price and exchange rate stability. is important therefore that cuses of balance of payments

ilcullies:

Exchange

in

1., Government spending he reduced.

cover

B004 22,70 200 i 22.88

Of 1,154 lastes traded, 637 were lower while 273 advanced and 244 held unchanged.

New York Stock Exchange volume was 2,050,000 shares.

New York Stock Exchange- volume was US$4,450,000,

American Stock Exchange volume Wis 000,000 Share Dow Jones closing averages were:

Klocks

Commodity futures index

MARKET

eive dealings.

the early

months

in less

Continued unfavourable wen- ther over ugharvested areas of· the Westem Central belt, and Tesultant consumer concern- London, Nov, 12.

over the availability of high season cor- Investment buying and fur-grade cotton this

ther base covering gave a imued to shape market senti. firm tone to Government's ment. and most industrials, in an otherwise mixed market today.

Dutch selling of by N.V. prompted

dividend 42.75 rumours the interim

Heavy Unllever

j08.03

NEW YORK PRICES Prices of cotton futures closed

today as follows:

Spot: 35.75n; Dec: 33.80; Mer: $5.67; May: 35.00; July: 35.25, Ot: *33-85-18; "Dee: 43.775 Mar: 33.775. NEW ORLEANS Prices of cotton futures closed

35.026: Mar:

Spot: 34.25: Dec; 35.58: May: 36,09;, July?

Deel

3 will be in stock instead of cash today as follows: 14337 depressed the issues two shill-

84.24 16207 lngs and six pence,

Most leading oil stocks gave Oct: 33.64b; ground with losses ranging to three shillings. The exception was Royal Dutch which closed unchanged.

16 1000

15.90

900 1.000

13.02

15.90

12.50 400

12.40

4.40

150 6 4.40

30 ndustriais

2.05

50 Ratis

14 Villes

000 1.00

bonds

Closing Prices

$ 1536

2733

37

10

4

New York Rubber Market

In light of the Soviet challenge, trade protectionism, has become a luxury which the United States can Do moro afford to indulgo than it can afford to permit inter-service disputes 10 hamper its missiles Red programme.

..

In its own interests and li the interests of the collectiyo strength of its allies, the Unitari States

extend must

and

since 1939 is in

|

3

New York, Nov. 12. rubber futures today closed. 17. to 45 points lower with aulos of 105 contracts.

Now! 230; Jam: 26.45; Mar: 28.55; May: 20.60; July and Sep:: 28 05: NOV: 20.60..

Standard contract closed 17

reported. to 45 points lower with no sales

vicals were

Alden te. Acy, Allied Chemical Allied Mills Inc. Allis Chalmers an, Brake Shoe American Airline American Cable Radio

Corp.

Aneriean Cyanamid Co

Juner, Foreign Power Am. Maen. & dry. American Metal American Smelting Am. Sugar Bel. ... American Tal & American Tob. "" Anaconda Copper

Armeo Steel

liberalise its trade agreements net and lend le full support to

Armour.****** The new vessel is to replace

2. No recourse be made to the proposed organisailon for

Allas Cons. Mining Koolinde, and wili operate

trade co-operation.

Nov: 20.30; Jan: 20.30; Mar: 2005; Baldwin-dans-Ham the banking system to along the 2,000 miles of coast deficits.

The United Stalca must May: 20.50; July and Sept: 2445: Ilimore & Onio After the war, when these ne between

flendix Aviation Corp. Fremantle and

that 8. The creation of bank credit reailse

дя 8 result of Nov: 20.0

Fuluics eased on a lack of Benguet Cana, .......... ships began to pass into private Darwin on the North West be restrained when savings arb economic progress, the rest of

Bethlehem Steel ownership, It was obvious that Coast of Australia. Ifer pre inadequate to meet investment the world, for the Arst time consumer buying Interest. PBY-

quiet and easier Being Airplane was not par-decessor of the same name was

Barden (The) Co. the machinery

a position to demand. and

the ticularly efficient for commst bombed

sink by

To use exchange rate varie say that if the United States following the trend at London. Burroughs Add Machine

Shipment offerings were about Canadian Pelle H. service, cial

while cargo- Japanese in February 1942. The

trade at that cent higher but there tions systematically to correct will not balance

Way, Case 13.1.) Co. of its exports, it may

Col. Tractor handling gear and other equip name Kootame conforms to the disturbed balance of payments level

volume pressing on the Celupeso Corp. improving. The owners' pelley of using Abori- misconceives the functions of have to do so of the level of market. ment needed

Spot No 1 Rss was LT. Financial Corp The differénco Imports. exchange rates which are to be Its

Curyaler Molera .... Liberty programme was follow-ginal names beginning with the

quoted nominally at 20% cents "Water stable and to provide a point of would be at least $5 billion. letter 'K', and means,

Climax Molybdenum Victories, ed by the

#more

Clucti Peabody a pound, an Fowl."

fixity to which prices, wages and complicated design with

Colgate-Palmolive Co. There tariffs can be adjusted,

Comineretai Cret appreciably higher speed.

Consolidated Edison can be no mechanism in inter-

continerisi Dil of Del. Crown Zalerbach Cuban Amer. Sugar Diamond Alkal

THE BLACK SHEEP

In January, 1949, the value of the Liberty was about £180,000 and 18 months later

£160,000. It was under

But in January, 1052, Liberties were fetching aver £600,000, due to the Korean War.

tho The Sucz crisis cause of a similar spiral, and towards the end of last year the Liberty was worth pearly

£700,000.

was

Prospect

It is expected that she will make her first northward voy-national prices without stable age in the Spring of next year,

cachanga relations between scem unlikely. calling at Geraldton, Carnarvon, Samson, Port Onslow, Point Hedland, Derby, Broome, Wynd-

ham and Darwin.

national currencies.

on a

needs

with

may

no

LONDON

Diamond Match Co. Dow Chemicala Dupont de Nemouck Eastern Airline

Fastman Kodak

The rubber markel was irre gular, with spot. quoted at 22- 3/10 pence per lb. Prices:

No, i Ra spot 2216-2214 with 2214 pald

Bettlement house terms: Dee: 2246-333

pald; with 224-22% Jan/Mar

221-222 2246-2234 Apr/Zune; 22-23, 221-23: July) Sept: 231-231 2316-231: Oct/Dec: 236-2736, 231, 2371%

General markets, cit basis, ports:

Dec: Nov: 22-2215: 221-223

SINGAPORE Despite better London advices the The effects on the United States

market opened economy of having to find a previous levels and with little overseas follow iquidation, domestle market for an ack-confidence in onal St. bilion of goods is a through eased

Initiated largely by Federation' frightening one.

If a cutback were to come at } centres.

AL Arst this prospect

The world still United States exports The question arises as to how Just as the United States needs the international liquidity of the foreign products to maintain its world can be put on a work-defences and standard of living. regionai trading It is true, as Mr Yet The new vessci is a single able basis.

Edward Bernstein, chief econo- groups being discussed all over with the Sovict screw molor ship, with a length

offensive unabated of 303 ft., a breadth moulded of mist of the International Mone the world, 40 ft. and a depth moulded to tary Fund has emphasised that economic

do- and with the prospect of U3. Main Deck of 21 f ins, She

convertibility "currency

fallering, of a deadweight

strong economic leadership pends primarily will

Carry

on a loaded payment position rather than this danger must be considered. about 1,000 tons draught of 17 ft.

any precise amount of reserves."

But # comparison of gold She has been specially

reserves and total world trade they a signed and To-day

constructed us a shows clearly that the present the black sheep of the shipping

passenger, cattle and · cargo

world gold reserves are too low world, realising as

Vessel. Including refrigerated

The needs. to meet today's £200,000.

cargo, In

with accordance

gold reserves of the tree world classification Unless un carly spell of Lloyd's highest

as a percentage of world trade are now about 19 per cent as bad winter weather in Europe and will also comply in all re- with the Australian injects some life into the coalavigation Act, the latest Mini- against 40 per cent in 1837. and grain trades, there is slimstry of Transport regulations

Monetary reserves in the form of dollar balances and sterling hope of any worthwhile revival and all requirements necessary

a sound sub- in freight markeu until next for

certificate of foreign-balances are not do- year. And the longer the pression lasis, the stronger the going. The speed in service will stitute for gold reserves.

Ititle as

argument for starting to scrap

the Liberty Bect, thereby casing to a considerablo extent the

worldwide tonnage surplus,

Many Liberties have already been laid up by their owners, especially the Greeks, while others are being considered for

be 13 knots.

LLOYDS REOPENS

IN POLAND

Gdynia, Poland, Nov. 12.

de-

This

El Paso National Gas Family Finanes Corp. Ford Motor 22-22501 | Jam: | General Electric

General Food General Motors Gen. Pub. Util. Getty Oll

80

around

143

a time when other elements in There was a fair interest for the United States economy were lower sheets mainly for Decem- weak, a serious recession would ber shipment. Closing prices: be almost inevitable.

No. 1 rubber per ib. Nov. 743 75x cession would spread through No. 1 rubber per ib. Nov. 1 out the non-Communist world No. 3 rubber par ib. Nov. 11 and would be the equivalent of No. rubber per 16. Nov. 878

Spot rubber umbaled .... a severe military defeat.

G6 G81) Blanket erEDE trade No. pale crepented Press. Thus, United States

to its ow policy is critical

to the strength of economy and the free world. To pretend that The low gold reserves number of countries have reach that there is any real altema ed a degree which constitutes a

Live to n bald and liberal United serious threat to foreign leade. States trade policy would be to This shortage of curzeNCY

that should 10= ignore everything serves brings nearer the danger have been learned in point at which "begger my months. United Press, Belghboure" policies may

Shortcoming

use as coal storage chips. The The Lloyda Register of Ship-resorted to by many

of o

be

part

break-even rate for a Libertyping office here-closed in 1930 as they did in the 1930s. New York Foreign

on the transatlantic coal trade as the height of the cold war-

is about 40 shillings a ton.

This rate Dow

slunda at

about 20 shillings, compared with a "high" of about 120 shillings in December, 1950, and

a "low" of about 25 shillings in

August, 1933, when the Korean boom burst.

has reopened.

countries

One of the best remedies to this lack of liquidity would be raising the price of gold.

coming of During its closure, classifica- The basic short

European tion and supervision of Polish the widely-heralded ships has been undertaken by common market treaty led in This Polish Ship Register and the scant attention pald to the

Exchange

New York, Nov. 12. Closing rates were; Canada

002001/14

Others unchangiect.—United Prms.

the Soviet Register, but severni problem of monetary police. I England

me Australia big ships of the Polish Ocean hope events will prove Lines remained under Lloyds wrong but I greatly fear that New Zealand Register rupervision, which was the present treaty will permit Bouth Africa The United States still has carried out mostly in German nations to continue policies of unjustified inflation with the The Lloyds Register repre- result that as their goods are international out of sentative in Gdynia skid today picked

they will sORK the Polish authorities made ap-markota proaches several months ago balance trade at their borders

2,000-odd ships, mostly Libor-:| ports. ties, in it National Defence

Reserve Fiest, and from time

to time some of Umno – are assigned for commercial opere-

to

NAMESAKES

Annvera)=)

Motament

New York Sugar

Market

Now York, Nov. 12.

Gidden Co.

Goodrich B. Y.) Co. Goodyear Tyre Gule Of Teyden Newport Corp. Homestand

Mining Co.

Infand Steel Co.

Interchemical Corp Int'l Business Machines Int'l Harvester International Nickel International Paper Int) Tel & Tel

John-Manville Co. Kanssa C. Power & Light Kennecott Copper

Liggett Meyers Tob. Ca. Lockheed Aircraft Loewa_Incorp.

Lone Star Cement Co Lowenstein & Sobu. Mesak Iron Corp. Minnesota Mini Mission Development Monsanto Chemical Co. Montgomery Ward Motorola Ine, National Cash Reg. "A" National Dalry. Prod. National Leau

New York Central

World No. 4 sugar futures National Steel Corp.

today closed to eight Norfolk & Western By. points higher with sales Ol

Otis Elevat Owen-linols Glam Oztord Paper Co. Pacific Gas & Flee Pan American Airways Paramount Pictures Buying in world futures re-Paike Davis Co. flected = fairly good. demand Fenny J.C. Co. in the world market for de- Philp Marie

of 426 contracts. Domestic No. 6 sugar closed unchanged to one point higher with no silos reparted.

livery over the

Penn. Salt Co.

two Procter & Gamble Co.

Publieker Industries

months and belief that there Pittburgh Plate Clas la a small amount

of unsold Pure O old Cuba sugar for the market.

world Radio Corporation

Radio Corp Frel.

Reynolds Metal

Both the domestic futures Republla Steel and raws were quiet.

Contract No. 4 (world)

a.wib; July: Blabi, hegt: 8.04ha

for the reopening of the office through continued use of the Quickstep, 3. Dincing, 4 Tempo. | cants, pergiɔarch Clan). Öpas ins

The main purpose of Lloyds odious devices of quotas, ex-E Tango, + Orchestra, 7

tion

to

bly

Last year, for example, official will be to superintend change controle and the like Percumion, 8' Radio; # Ballroom, was found

ocean-going ships under Closely related to monetary: 10 Devolve 11 Partner, 12 sutheries "breakout" from the construction in Polish, yerda, polles En importance to the Lessons, 18 Waltz, 14 Number, Boet bocause of the tight both for Polish and fordiġu | economic strength of the note 15 Rhythm, tonnage situation. By MaŸ“.

China Mail Special. Communist world is the question Victor Ellvit.

Verasi: 3,686 poolectar

Contrnet No. 8 (domestio) Mar:3.8; May: 4.50b; -July-

#4pt;\; 9.000 -- Nov;

Basil Oil Pe... Bains Reg. Papa: Sinclair. Du

Bosqar Mobioti Bouthern National des Bouthern Railway (Com) Blandand Branda)

4012

23

liens scored sub- Japanese stanlal price increases on 16 porta from Japan that govern- ment plans to pay off a big its foreign debts portion of within a few years.

GRt-edged securities Improv- od fractionally,

down-

Dollar stocks turned 1831% ward-United Press.

731

London Foreign

Exchange

London, Nov. 12.

Closing rates were:

3314

59

New York

30% Montre

Ameterdam

18 Brussels

03

12

INJA

50

Copenhagen Frankfurt

Miam Paris

Stockholm

Vienna

280-3/16-2.00%

130.13-140.17 1930-1950 13.77ER-13.771; 1751-118111 11801-1181 14.40-14.50 71.83-72.30

Zurich *********** 12.264-12 2013

Ibon and Oslo were unchanged..... United Press.

$3.17, LIVERPOOL

Cotton futures closing, in pence per lb, were as follows: Dec/Jan: 14 But:- Old contract: Mar/Apr: 1597; May/June: 28 DI-100: July/ate: 20.0in; Oct/Nov: R007a

New contract: Deo/Jau: 28BON; Mar/Apr: 20 73; May/June: 29230; July/Aug: 23: 001/NOW: 8.69.

BẦU PAUL Cotton futures closing, 10

per kilo were cruzeiros follows:

Nov: 36.00; Dec; 16.20; Mar: 38:00, May: $5.00; Jul 28.30,

113

In the United States, the average price of one-inch cotton at 14 designated sport markets" was not available.

Total

sales ot these 11 markets were 80,678 bales,-*-**

United Press.

Exchange Rates

Hyginem was done in the local unofficial, exchange market this morning at the following rates;--- U.B. dellar (per $1)

Sterling noten (per £1). Australian notes (per (21) Indonesian rupiah (per 100) Hiam tical (per 100) Singapore (Btraite)

SHIP

0.03 18.00

BENOLINE

Just

Arrived

New

EXPRESS ANNUAL

EXPRESS

1957

The Super-colour Book for Boys Containing

Picture-strip stories Adventure stories

True-life Features

Colour Pages

and Humour

$10.

SOUTH CHINA Morning Post LTD. HONGKONG

KOWLOON

1

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