INCREASED FREIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 93, 19 April 1916, Page 7

INCREASED FREIGHTS

DECISION OF SHIPPING COMPANIES RESULT OF WAR AND OTHER' CHARGES. (BI TELEGP.tPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) DUNEDIN, This Day. As has been anticipated for some time, a revision of the freight tariff will be announced shortly. It is understood the Union Company. Huddart, Parker, Company., and -practically all the smaller local companies will raise the shipping rates hy 2s 6d per ton on the coast, and that the intercolonial freights will be made uniform by the Union Company increasing the rate by 5s per ton. Passenger fares will not be affected, and will remain- at, pre-war rates. The increase in freight charges is due to the aggregation of abnormal circumstances during the past twenty months, in which the outstanding feature has been a steidy general increase in the working cost of shipping. The wages of every branch of shipping afloat and ashore have been increased substantially, while since the war commenced the heavy increased charges for bunker coal, marine engine, and victualling stores, war risk premiums, harbour and light dues have been imposed. It is probable that, through dfrect and indirect influences of the war, the Dominion shipping companies have been called upon to meet an additional expenditure of close on half a million sterling annually. In view of the phenomenal conditions and charges ■obtaining in other countries, New Zealand is still in a fortunate position.