FREIGHT ON WHEAT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2502, 1 July 1915, Page 7

FREIGHT ON WHEAT

A QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT. In the House of Representatives yes-, terday, Mr. T. M. Wilford asked the Prime Minister whether he had "turned down" an offer of freight at '£5 per ton, to bring the wheat over which he had secured an option in Canada, to New Zealand, and whether subsequently an offer at £2 17s. 6d. a ton was declined. In reply Mr. Massey said that it was quite true that he made inquiries for freight, and the only offer ho could get was at £5 per ton. He thought that exorbitant. Wheat had been' brought down at £2 a- ton, and that was a high rate. ■ He had had no offer to carry to New Zealand at £2 17s. 6d. a ton, but though he had not signed any contract he thought he was justified in saying that lie bad practically made arrangements to bring any wheat required from Canada to New Zealand at a very much more'reasonable rate than £5 a ton, or anything like it. He was not at liberty to say what the freight would be, but arrangements were practically complete. As a matter of fact the tendency 'of ifreipftts was lower r.ow. Directly wheat dropped in England freights dropped. He would supply the whole of the particulars to Parliament later.