SUEZ CANAL DUES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 213, 2 June 1908, Page 2

SUEZ CANAL DUES.

REPRESENTATIONS TO THE HOME. • GOVERNMENT.

' Correspondence respecting tho charges-im-posed on shipping using the Suez Canal was, last week laid on the table of tho Commonwealth House of Representatives. v-:.. Tho papers show that in, March the presi-• dent of the Associated Chambers, of. Commerce of tho Commonwealth wrote -to'.Mr; Deakin, asking if any material progress had: ■ been made in the negotiations' with ther . British Government -for a reduction of tho dues. It was pointed out . that tho\ very high charges collected ■ from oal-go. steamers ■. rendered it almost prohibitive for those vessels to use the .canal when trading with • Australia. _ The Canal, Company had . paid * another high dividend to its shareholders, so that tho British Government at tho 'pro-. •') sent time had received b*ek; its originally ; ■ invested capitil, plus 3f psr cont. interest, : and,' in addition thorefco, had no* received • £7,654,000, at lea«fc throe-fiftho of whioh bad 1 been 'paid by British shipping. : Tho writer - said the prosefrt London Committee of tho ■ ' Suez Canal .consisted almostly exclusively of .. what might bo termed "mail lino interests," which did not, on many occasions, see eye to eye with tho owners of tonnage catering moro particularly for cargO. In requesting the Governor-General to forward .the communication to tho Secretary of State for tho Colonies, tho Primo Minister. said he would be pleased if ho would inform. Lord Elgin that every stop that tended to facilitate intercourse between the Common-' wealth and Groat Britain would .be heartily welcomed in Australia. .•