Increase from Feb. 1

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 1

Increase from Feb. 1

An increase of 12] per cent in freight rates on general cargo shipped from European ports to New Zealand on and after February 1, 1971, will be made by the New Zealand European Ship* ping Association, according to the N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent in London.

Mr C. A. W. Dawes, chairman of the association, said in a statement released in London today that much as the 11 lines regretted their decision it could surely come as no surprise. “The cost of stevedoring, crew wages, bunkering; and port charges have all risen sharply throughout the United Kingdom and Europe during recent months,” said Mr Dawes.

“Warnings that freight rises throughout the world are inevitable have been given on a number of occasions, and this has been followed by no fewer than 17

international shipping conferences announcing increases of up to 15 per cent,” he said. “While it is a fact that the rates from Europe to New Zealand increased by 5 per cent on October 1, this only partly covered the shortfall in freight revenue on the lines’ operations in the previous year,” said Mr Dawes. Since then, in addition to all other rises, the effect of the dock strike in Britain had had to be taken into account. “In New Zealand, waterside workers have received a substantial increase in wages, and this again is another charge upon the 11 lines.” The 11 N.Z.E.S.A. member lines are Blue Star Line, Ltd; the New Zealand Shipping Company, Ltd; Port Line Ltd; Shaw Savill and Albion Company, Ltd (British); East Asiatic Company, Ltd (Danish); ■ Koninklijke Nedlloyd N.V. representing Nederland and Royal Rotterdam Lloyd (Dutch); Messageries Maritimes (French); Hapag-Lloyd AG., representing HamburgAmerica and Norddeutscher, and Hamburg South America Line (German); Wilh. Wilhelmsen (Norwegian); Transatlantic Steamship Company, Ltd (Swedish).