REDUCTION IN FREIGHTS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 29, 3 February 1919, Page 8

REDUCTION IN FREIGHTS.

BUT NO REDUCTION IN GOODS. PRICES RISING AT HOME. The cabled statement that there had been a reduction averaging about 60 per cent from the flat rate of lon/ recently ruling on freights to all direct ports in Australia and New Zealand was referred to several wholesale and retail merchants this morning. Questioned as t» whether this would mean any material reduction in prices of commodities at a reasonably early date, the opinion was expressed that it was extremely doubtful. On high priced goods, which from their nature occupied a very small space on shipboard, the reduction in freight meant very little. On low-priced goods, of a bulky character, the reduction in freight would make a very material difference under ordinary' circumstances. Against this, however, "was the fact that practically no -roods wore yet coming forward, and that prices were steadily rising at Home of many of the commodities in use here. This, it was held, would fully equalise any reduction in freights that might be made at present except, perhaps, in regard to one or two lines. The price of corrugated iron and fencing wire, for instance, had been reduced recently, and might see a further reduction as the result of the reduced freights mentioned. In general it was considered, very doubtful, in view of the unsettled conditions at Home, whether there would be any substantial reduction in the price of the large majority of goods for many months to come.