FREIGHT RATES.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16341, 12 October 1918, Page 4

FREIGHT RATES.

REPLY TO FARMERS' UNION. irRESS ASSOCIATION' TEIJEGIIAM. . AY ELLIN GTON, October 11. Shipowners and freights wore freely discussed at the recent confcronce of tho Farmers' Union, and references were made to the profits which the shipping comnanies were Realising. Mr James Findlay, chairman of the Overseas Shir,owners,' Committee, called tho attention of the conference to the fact that inasmuch as the Imporia Government had requisitioned a.I •■■teamers trading to Australia and New Zealand, paying shipowners lflitp Boole rates (about one fourth oi was, prior to the Imperial requisition, the current rate for chartering tramp steamers), freights were not Jisod by the shipowners, but by the Government, who 4vere the cnarterers. J lie shipping companies handed over ail freights' collected to tho Imperial Government. Mr Findlay then suggested that if the conference doubted tins, it could verify his statement by cabling to the High Commissioner at the overseas shipowners' charge Mr Findluy's statement was not wholly accepted *bv several members of the conference, among whom, may be mentioned as prominent objectors, Messrs G Sheat. \V. Couser, W. D. Lysnar, and J O'Neill. However. Mr Findlay s offer was taken up, Mr Lysnar moving that the following cablegram be sent to the High Commissioner: "Overseas Committee here assert that the Imperial Government derives the benefit from the existing high rates of freight, the shipping companies being merely agents, both for inward and outward loading, the Government paying shipowners here at Blue Book fates, equivalent to about one-fourth the current rates for chartering prior to the requisition in March, 1917; also that all freights collected are handed over to the Imperial Government. .Cable precisely if the above is correct, also if the Government retains' the full benefit of all freights without any disbursements. Also quote freights prior to March, 1917, and present freights on wool, meat, butter, and general cargo." Sir Jame3 AYilson, president of the conference, opposed tho eending of the message, but the conference decided on the voices that it should go. Following is the reply of the High Commissioner, addressed to the Acting-. Prime Minister: —

"Following is for transmission to Mr Jack, secretary Farmers' Union Conference : With reference to your to!egram of August 3rd, under tha Imperial liner requisition echemo which camo into operation in tho spring of 1917, the companies receive here, in respect to their vessolß, Blue Book rates. They operate the vessels on Inu Serial Government the latter eing credited with earnings and debited with all charterers' disbursements, including management 'and agency charges. The Ministry of Shipping does not. anticipate that the present scales of freights and passage money will do more than meet the cost of the pcheme, The current rate of freight on \rool ia 2Jd per lb, on meat and butter £7 10s per forty cubic feet ship's space, general cargo £6 10a per ton by 'weight p? measurement, at ship's option. The rates fixed by the companies in October, 1916, were: WooJ 2j{d per lb, butter 3s 9d per box, cheese per Jb,' general cargo £5 5s to £10 per ton. An explanatory letter will follow by mail.