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AND DEMAND SITUATION AT ANY ONE TIME. WHILE WITHOUT DOUBT
THERE EXIST DISPARITIES IN LIVING STANDARDS AND PER CAPITA
INCOMES IN THE VARIOUS PARTS OF THE GLOBE, WHICH ARE REFLECTED
IN DIFFERING LOCAL OR REGIONAL WAGE SCALES, THE OLD SAYING
THAT "YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR " ALSO HOLDS TRUE WITH
RESPECT TO THE QUALITY OF CREWS AND, AS MENTIONED, THE
INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER OF OUR INDUSTRY PRODUCES GREAT
EQUA LISING PRESSURES ALSO ON WAGES AND CONDITIONS, WHICH
INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL LA BOUR ORGANISATIONS ARE IN ADDITION
TRYING VERY HARD TO FURTHER ACCELERATE.
A FOURTH ARGUMENT ONE HEARS ABOUT THE CHOICE OF FLAGS
OF NECESSITY OR CONVENIENCE IS THE ONE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
THINK THEY UNDERSTAND BEST (BUT IN FACT DON'T), NAMELY
TAX AVOIDANCE. ON THIS POINT LET ME JUST SAY THAT THE FLAG
ALONE IS NOT THE ONLY FACTOR FOR TAX LIABILITY, OR FOR ITS
ABSENCE, AND TO GET THE TRUE PICTURE FOR AN OWNER'S TAX
POSITION IT IS NECESSARY TO ANALYSE IN SOME DEPTH THE WAY
HIS ORGANISATION IS STRUCTURED AND MANAGED, HOW AND WHERE
HIS CHARTERS ARE ARRANGED, AND SO FORTH. TO BELIEVE THAT
REGISTRATION IN LIBERIA AND PANAMA NECESSARILY MEANS THE
COMPLETE FREEDOM FROM ALL TAXES IS RATHER WISHFUL THINKING,
ALSO, EXPENSES FOR INITIAL REGISTRATION AND ANNUAL TONNAGE
DUES ARE NORMALLY HIGHER IN THOSE COUNTRIES THAN IN SOME
COUNTRIES OF CONVENTIONAL FLAGS, AND ANY GOVERNMENTAL
SUBSIDIES FOR SHIPPING WHICH MIGHT BE AVAILABLE IN THE LATTER
ARE OF COURSE TOTALLY ABSENT IN THE FORMER.
ATTACKS ARE ALSO MADE AGAINST FLAG-OF-CONVENIENCE
COUNTRIES FOR THEIR REPORTED BENIGH NEGLECT OF WHAT
HAPPENS TO THE SHIPS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN REGISTERED.
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