OVERSEAS FREIGHTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 160, 10 July 1933, Page 9

OVERSEAS FREIGHTS

REDUCTION SOUGHT.

AGREEMENTS OPPOSED. CANTERBURY OPINIONS. The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has decided to. carry its agitation for reduced sea freights a step further by urging the central executive to take the matter up with the Prime Minister by cable while he is in London.

The exporters' and produce committees reported to a. nn-cting of the chamber that they had considered the disparity between Argentine and New Zealand freight rates, particularly for exports, aiid decided to approach the shipping companies and also the secretary of the Oveaseas Shipowner?' Committee in Wellington in connection with the securing of freight reductions. The following resolution was carried unanimously and copies- were forwarded to the shipping interests, the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand and other chambers throughout the Dominion:

"That in view of the following facts: (a) The general fall inval ics of all commodities exported from New Zealand which commodities furnish the principal means of livelihood for our community; (b).our products have to compete with those from other sources which arc carried at much lower rates of freight even after allowing for our geographical handicap; (c) the overseas companies since 1024 have afforded very little relief, and none in some cases, in freight rates on general cargo outwards, representations be made to the shipping companies with a view to obtaining substantial reductions which arc long overdue, and that this chamber affirms as a general principle that freight rates for all general cargo should be left subject to ordinary business competition, untrammelled by any restrctions at present made operative in agreements for the carriage of produce and. goods entered into by produce control boards."

Tlie Overseas Shipowners' Allotment, Committee, Wellington, in a letter, regretted that it could not hold out much hope of a reduction in the near future of general cargo freight ratee from New Zealand.

Notification of support for the Canterbury attitude was received from the Hastings and Auckland Chambers of Commerce.

Argentine Rates. The president of the Royal Agricultural Society (Mr. L. R. C. Maefarlane) wrote congratulating the chamber on its attitude. It was interesting to note that the charges from the Argentine on wool, tallow and hides were just one-third of ours, while pelts went Home for just about one-flfth the Xew Zealand rate. However, as conditions of loading and payment were so different in the Argentine, it was hard to draw a true comparison. He understood that in Australia a fres.li agreement had just been arranged to begin on .Tune 1 on a flat rate for heavy wool. The charge now came to about' j<l a lb on the maximum bale of 0001b, pins 5 per cent, less 10 per cent. Mr. V. E. Hamilton, seconding the adoption of the report, assured the chamber of the support of importers. He quoted the freight prices on bar iron, which was 22/(5 a ton before the war and was now 00/: general cargo, 20/ before the war and 85/ now; and bolts and nuts. 33/ before the war and 00/ now. The increase on the lines he haJ studied were from 100 to 160 per cent, and averaged 100 per cent. Every business had Tiad to reduce its prices, but the shipping companies had not. Xo doubt ships were coming out empty or partly so. but be could "not help feeling that the high freisrhts might be a cause. Mr. W. Machin said that while the index showed that the prices of commodities carried had declined freights had materially increased. Tn any discussions with the companies, the fact tbat the volume was now very much greater should be emphasised.