Pacific freight rise coming

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32637, 19 June 1971, Page 2

Pacific freight rise coming

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, June 18. Pacific Islands freight rates will be increased later this month on most runs maintained by New Zealand ships.

The Union Steam Ship Company has warned the Bureau of Importers and Exporters to expect “quite a substantial increase in July.”

Freight rates for the Government Islands trader Moana Roa have already been increased 10 per cent earlier this week, ana will become effective on her next sailing for the Cook Islands. The Holm Shipping Company, which maintains runs between Auckland, the Cook Islands, Tahiti and New Cale-

donia. Is believed to be considering an increase, too. In a number of cases shipowners have twice increased their Islands freight rates within a period of 12 months. The president of the Bureau of Importers and Exporters, (Mr J. A Horrocks) said that the new charges were unwelcome, and must have an adverse effect on contracts—but they were not entirely unexpected. The amount of the company’s increase is not yet known. A company spokesman said he wished to advise customers first before announcing the amount of the increase.

There would be a general increase in charges, beginning with the Tofua’s next voyage to Fiji and Samoa. The increase was because of continuing rises in overall costs, coupled with higher waterfront wages in Fiji, and the recent watersiders’ dispute. Higher rates were last introduced last October, shortly before the price freeze. The Holm Shipping Line had to wait until the end of the price freeze before it could introduce its higher charges in February.