SHIPPING RINGS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 748, 22 February 1910, Page 5

SHIPPING RINGS.

BOTHA'S THEEAT. By Tolcßraph-Press Assodation-Ooiiyrieht Pretoria, February 20 . The Premier of tho Traosvad!<Werai Botha, threatens drastic steps if the shipping companies impose ratos 'detrimental to Sooth African interests.

; jROYAL COMMISSION'S REPORT.^report, submitted) last ; year)- of the Jloyal Commissionon Shipping Kings was Its; to inquire int«p.the.. operations of ■ shipping 'rings or ponforoncesjenaraUyV and,mor«f into the system; of, deferred rebates, and •to report ■ whether such operations have causea, or are likely to cause, injury, to iSntoh.or colonial trade,.and, if so, what remedial action,; if; any, should ,be 'taken. Dy m legislation or otherwise. -' •.■.■■ ,i T f e . ( n W°rrt3:::report does/not: consider that it JS, i desirable:that, : .tte eystem'. of deferred;rebates;should be prohibited by law, ■■ bnt.; .they: are ■ of,- opinwii>, -that i ; ;the .abuses W which it is liable fender neces-' sary,somfl check or ! control!: ."". ■' - V : . One.of the: recommendations says :— >■ TV« : consider, that 'most, if not all ■ thei sertous abuses to-which .the system" is liable'can be .remedied 'by such , counter combinations ;i>n> the'.part of merchants and shippers, .and that if is generally un- ■ desirable, that;(the; State should'interfere to remedy,;©! 1 prevent ■grievinces which; by a;reaeonable;effort,.can be.prevented; or. remedied by theTpersora opneerned.'" 1 : Tho minority;report': eays:— '■;■ ; ■' * : ' ;'."l. The conference systenv with' the de- : ferred rebateTrthe. natural evolution of a' trade dealing with :cus- : tomers for the most part'scattered ordis-pr|ahised—has.created-on, almost alltthb chief ocean routes a;monopoly,.the..limitationa..npoii; which- ! are'"in" many'case3 illusory,' and'whioh.generally tend, to' de-' olino.''.: , ;-■v,--'.^'■■ '■-.''■:'.;•;,- - ;v ,.-■'■.:."".' ■ ■':■'- ; ■ ■■ .■]..

'•: "2. The eystem' ; was first' instance ; with Vthe. object :qf raising rates or tlieir-fall'/Mid'idimin-lshing. competition. ■,'■■(-:;;■/;,.■-■-.■■." :?• :;■.■■ • "3. It. has'rbeSn'i'Encce^ful'.'ih- raising orke^ingnp'rat^i*:»:-,':':'■'-'■..•■' ■.-■.;■ "4. Tho -p UDUc';hflveV' , as ; a'Vrale;';lo 'pay higher v iates of freight than'they .would pay in.an,open.-marK?ti'',i .j, "■ ■■■■ r> : ,'V;; ■ "5/ The system\> has":: injurious', to 'tramps,' the: strongest:':element -in:-.the ■Britiehmeroantile marine, and it leads as to them'.to waste'and" to-higher "rates of freight."/ o , ?.;;;>■' \' : .^>- : -^:'S':':-' :: :y