FREIGHT RATES

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 53, Issue 207, 14 June 1933, Page 7

FREIGHT RATES

CAMPAIGN FOR REDUCTION.

COMPANIES TO BE APPROACHED.

(Special to the “ Guardian.”)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day

Holding that substantial reductions in freight rates are long overdue, the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce is launching a Dominion-wide campaign to this end. The reasons set out in a statement issued yesterday were: First the general fall in values of all commodities exported from New Zealand, furnishing the principal means of livelihood of the country; secondly, these products having to compete with those from other sources carried at much lower rates of freight, even after allowing for New Zealand’s geographical handicap • and, thirdly, the fact that the overseas companies since 1924 have afforded very little relief, and none in some cases, in freight rates on general cargo outwards. • The full text of the resolution passed by the Exporters and Produce Committees of the Chamber reads: “

“That representations be made to the shipping companies with a view to obtaining substantial reductions, which are’ long overdue, and that this Chamber affirms as a general principle that freig% rates for all general cargo should be left subject to ordinary business competition, untrammelled by any restrictions at present made operative in agreements for the carriage of produce and goods entered into by produce control boards.”

Rates Compared. The Exporter's and Produce Committees were given authority at the last meeting of the Chamber to give consideration to the subject with a view to effecting reductions. The committee has. prepared tables for the comparison of rates operating in New Zealand and those of Australia and the Argentine. Particulars are given in these tables of the rates in New Zealand since November, 1924. The tables show that the . winter rates for mutton and lamb have increased by 76 and 85.5 pel’ cent, respectively, and the summer rates 1 by 40.2 and 50.6 per cent. The percentage increase for wool has been from 60 to 81.8 on pre-war rates, for tallow 68.7, for pelts 88.8, and for hides 70 per cent. The current Australian rates on frozen meat is slightly higher, but the Argentine freights are considerably less. The Australian rate on wool is also slightly higher in each case, while the Argentine is relatively in an admirable position. For tallow' the Australian rate is slightly less, but for pelts and hides their charges are considerably higher. Again, also, the Argentine freights are approximately one quarter of those of New Zealand. No allowance is made in any case for exchange. t Details are:

Since 1924 a total reduction of 15 per cent, has been allowed in the case of mutton and lamb, 15.62 per cent for tallow and 34.61 per cent, for hides. No reductio nhas been made in the freights for wool and pelts since that year. Other chambers will he asked to cooperate, and copies of the resolution and tables will be sent to each shipping company and the secretary of the Overseas Committee, Wellington. The Freezing Companies’ Association has been authorised to send copies to its committee in London. Further tables on freights, including import cargoes, will probably be published later.

CARRIAGE OF PRODUCE. SHIPPING COMPETITION; WELCOMED. HASTINGS, June 13. In view of the negotiations which are proceeding for a new contract for the carriage of primary products from New Zealand to Britain, the following resolution was passed by the directors of the Hawke’s Bay Farmers’ Meat Company and W. Richmond, Ltd.: “That the directors are of the opinion that hitherto the producers of New Zealand have suffered seriously through the absence of any real competition among the shipping companies for the carriage of produce. We are unanimously and emphatically of the opinion that any opportunity which occurs which may tend to promote more healthy, legitimate competition among the shipping companies in the

carriage of New Zealand produce should ho encouraged in every possible way and to the utmost extent by the Meat Board and all producers’ organisations in the Dominion.”

Frozen; Meat. Per lb.Mutton Lamb. d. d. N.Z. current 916 1.073 N.Z. per-war: Winter 5204 .5782 Summer 6531 .7125 Increase to-day p.c.: Winter 76 85.5 Summer 49.2 50.6 d. d. Australia -. Current 1 1 Argentine: Chilled -651 .551 Frozen 499 .490 Wool. At per lb. Greasy Scoured Slipe d. d. d. N.Z. current 1.050 1.313 1.181 Pre-war 0.656 0.722 0.722 Increase per cent. 60 81.8 63.6 Australia current 1.128 1.366 1.366 Argentine, approx .1875 Tallow, Pelts, Hides. At per ton. N.Z. current ... 89/3 89/3 Pi’e-war 42/- 47/3 52/6 Increase p.c. ... 68.7 88.8 70.0 Australia current 70/9 94/9 93/4 Argentine . 22/6to2os 22/6 30s wet 40s dry