SHIPPING FREIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3048, 9 April 1917, Page 6

SHIPPING FREIGHTS

INIKtAoLo rKIIDILJiiU

The present schedule of intercolonial aud New Zealand coastal freights will, it is understood, be adjusted in the very near future, probably within a fortnight or so, (says the Dunedin "Star"). This announcement will not cause a. great deal of surprise. It has been increasingly obvious for some time that the war stress upon universal shipping was bound to make itself more severely felt in New. Zealand, which has, comparatively speaking, had a very fortunate experience, both as regards shipping services and charges, and particularly in the matter of intercolonial and coastal freights. Undoubtedly the pressure of war has been felt in the form of disorganisation and delay of Australasian shipping services, but the position as a whole has represented the minimum of inconvenience, and probably has no parallel in the world. In view of the projected alterations, it is only, fair to put that aspect of the position. It appears that a combination of abnormal circumstances necessitate, a revision of the existing scale of intercolonial and coastal freights. .It is not possible, of course, to obtain definite details as to the substantial increases that have been incurred by the various companies in the working cost of shipping, but it is common knowledge that the wages of all shipping employees afloat and ashore have been considerably increased since the outbreak of war, and that the cost of coal and all marine stores has been increased enormously. Over.a year ago, when the intercolonial and coastal shipping authorities announced their first war-period increases in freights, it was "pointed out that it was very doubtful whether the increases then imposed— by ss. per ton (intercolonial) and 2s; 6d. per ton (coastal) —would meet the abnormal expenditure. Since ijien wages nave again been increased, while the conditions in respect of the_ other working charges have, it is said, become worse than ever owing to delays through scarcity of labour, disorganisation of services, ■ and the difficulty of obtaining coal at certain important ports, where industrial trouble is rarely unknown. The recent concessions to seafaring men and waterside workers: represent a vital factor in the necessity for increasing intercolonial and coastal freights. And on top of those concessions lias been placed an increase in the cost of coal, which, it would seem, is difficult to get even at a high.price. . The projected increases • in the freights have not yet been fixed definitely, but it is practically certain that the alteration in the scale will be somewhat similar to that made about a year ago. And it is probable that the increased rate for general cargo in the coastal trade will be higher than tho additional impost of 2s. 6d. per ton last year. The increases in the rates for intercolonial cargo and coastal produce -will'likely be ss. and 2s. 6d. per ton respectively. , As.at the first adjustment of the intercolonial and coastal shipping tariff, there will bo no increase in fares.