COMPARATIVE RATES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12478, 14 April 1906, Page 6

COMPARATIVE RATES.

(SPECIAL TO "the tbess.") DUNEDIN, April 12. The staitemenft made fay tlie Premier tJiat for yeans the farmers of New Zealand had been paying 33 per cent., and as much as 50 per oent., more in freights to the Mother Oountory than was paid in. Australia, has been tho topic of to-day im connection with the shipping wair. Enquiries made by a "Star" representative, not fnora interested shipping oompaniee, nor from interested exporter., but from feourties which aro at once disinterested and well informed, go to show tihe utter futility of instituting a oomparisoh between the conditions of loading which rule in Australia, and those wihfch have prevailed in Now Zealand.

In Australia the Homo steamers make only about three ports of oall, while in New Zealand shipß carrying similar cargoes have to tramp up and down the coast, lifting small parcels of cargo hero and there, and often cadling at ten, twelve, or fourteen parte. All the timo they aro eating up their earnings in port dues, and con,sumption and chaises for stevedoring. Even when this point is eliminated, it is hand to discern wihere 33 per cent, difference between Australian, and New Zealand freights oorties in Butter, for example, ie a leading line of export, both here aaid in Australia. In Nc«w Zealand it is shipped at Ss 6d per box, as against Is 15d per box from Australian ports. To forwafd butter to the ports of concentration— Lyttelton and WeHauigton—a measure which is necessary in the interests of the Home butter trade generally, and therefore in the interests of exporters and producers aihotig others, 10S per toh has to Jbo paid for coastal transhipment, sd that the difference between Australian and New Zealand rates only comes to 20 per cent. In the matter of wool, Comparison i* futile. In Now Zealand a steady rate, fixed annually, prevails. At present it is Jd per lb. In Australia no rate i» fixed, and the rates fluctuate very touch. Very often it is lower than thi New Zealand rait©, but tamdtimes, and. especially at the very time Whoa producers are puiteig their -drool hefloft, to oatoh certain sales, the Australian rats reaches a tefy high figurt. Indeed, once during the present year it has been as high as Id, or just double the New Zealand rate.

A very good example of Now Zeafcnd wool araibm being topped by Australian ones oocurrod during tho first year <rf tho Boer war. Just before the outbreak of hostilities, the Now Zealand rate had kn fixed for tihe year 1899;10OO. To this nate the direct linos faftihfully adhered, at much, loss to themselves. Ttbe •Australian lines were under no such obligation., and when miHfcaTy requirements began, to tmake tonnage floareo, the Australian companies practically' charged what they pleaded. It is pretty well knowm, also, that the built of Au#trali&n exporters, so far from enjoying their own efoipging conditions, would S refer A fixed taite, as i« tihe case Hh '<<—■ Zealand. It simplifies and SutMtates llufiiness. GENERAL. The Home shipping agents hare no difficulty in filling oargo and passenger space, but a couple of months hence tho slack season begins, and by thot time th© freight wax will be in full swing, and, judging by present indictions, the struggle will be severe while it lasts. So far as pa*songeira are concerned, the Shaw, SaviH and New Zealand Shipping Companies hare an advantage in many respects, but in the matter of oargo the question resolves iteelf largely into one of cheap freight. The farming community -will give support to the company which, carries its produce at the cheapest rates.

On being questioned upon the point a representative of the, Shaw, oarill and Albion Company remarked: "Our ships aire full in the meantime, and we oan do nothing even if we so desired. We shall use every endeavour to keep our clients, and also their patronage, and whilst determined to protect their interests and our own, still we oan only deal with oontinejencies as they arise from time to time, and then we shall more than meet them. We will simply do what any other business firm wonld do under similar circumstances."