PANAMA CANAL TOLLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 215, 7 September 1912, Page 5

PANAMA CANAL TOLLS.

A SENATOR'S VIEW. NO AMENDMENT LIKELY* ARBITRATION MEANS DEFEAT. (By Cable.— Press Association.—Copyright) LONDON, September 6. In an interview, Mr Chauncey Depew (a member of the United States Senate) said that he did not think that the Panama Canal Bill would be amended or that recourse to arbitration would be adopted. America, tie said, would certainly be beaten if the dispute were referred to arbitration. THE COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. A HEAVY LOSS LIKELY. X£W YORK, September 6. According to the data prepared by Mr Johnson Special Commissioner for Panama ) , the whole American coastwise traffic likely to pass through the canal when it opens will be 1,000,000 tons a year. During the following five years he estimates that it will increase to a million and a-half tons.

Mr Johnson is inclined to the belief that Britsh and other foreign commerce will be obliged to bear 10 per cent additional burden over the amount payable if ■Americans ware not exempted. He points out that a proportionate share of this burdon ""ill hf borne br American ships. whir]; will consequently then be on a precise equality with the foreign. He suggests'that 4/ a. ton be the rate for the first year the Canal is in operation, in order to compete with th» Suez Canal.

On the bifir- of ten million tons of business yearly, the inroui< , will 'up mtirely inadequate, to meet the charge* for interest, sinking fund and sanitation nf the Canal, consequently the Canal -will be operated by the United States at. a heavy los>. He claims that th? services granted foroijrn ships on a basis of a 4/ flat rate will bo quite below the cost of the services afforded, consequently no discrimination will be imposed against foreign vessels. AXTSTKAIIA'S INTEREST. MELBOURNE. September fi. Correspondence from the British Government in respect to the. Panama Canal tolls was tabled in the House of Representatives to-day.