The Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE Cromwell, Monday, April 23, 1906.

Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1985, 23 April 1906, Page 4

The Cromwell Argus AND NORTHERN GOLDFIELDS GAZETTE Cromwell, Monday, April 23, 1906.

The big fight that has just started between the old THE FREIGHT shipping firms of WAR. the Shaw Savill and the New Zealand Shipping Coy on the one side, and the Federal-Houlder Line, means that they will both make very heavy losses while the fight lasts, as both are wealthy combinations ; that ultimately they will come to terms.and charge the usual rates is more than probable. In the meantime the producers will have all the best of it, and will wish the fight to be kept going. It seems to be generally agreed that a shipping combine existed, and still does exist, including the White Star, New Zealand and Shaw Savill combination, and when the Federal line started to run to South Africa it was often mentioned, and commented upon, that in some way they had a " political pull," with the intention of making the public believe that the other companies were being badly treated, and thereby influence the business against the Federal line. We heartily endorse the Government policy in asiisting this Company (Federal), and thereby securing cheaper freights, for by doing so they have opened markets in the different parts of Great Britain and South Africa, and we hope the Federal Houlder line may keep on fighting, and get liberal support, thus securing a continuance of low freights, and a better all-round service, as New Zealand is sufficiently handicapped by the long distance from the Home markets, and it is only by the very high quality of the frozen meat and dairy produce that we have been enabled to do so well in these markets in holding the trade. The Government, we think, are fully alive to the position, and they have worked for the interests of the colony in this to keep the Shipping Combine in hand, and of course they will naturally be abused by interested parties of the ring.