INCREASED FREIGHTS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 9, 11 January 1929, Page 8

INCREASED FREIGHTS

PUZZLING RETICENCE DETAILS STILL WITHHELD Australian Press Association—United Service. (Eeceivcd 11th January, 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, 10th January. An extraordinary position has arisen owing to the decision of the Australian Merchants' Committee advising against the publication of the details of the increases in freights to Australia. No reason has been given for this beyond the fact that it might cause misapprehension in Australia in the absence of the full text. The shipowners have no objection of any kind. ' It was stated earlier that full details would be available as soon as prepared, but the Merchants' Committee at the last minute said*it believed that publication would not be desirable.

Shippers to Australia are perplexed and bewildered at the complicated position which has ensued. One result is that shippers are compelled to make inquiries regarding everything they are shipping, consequently orders are being held up until information as; gained. The present position, can only be described as absurd time-wasting. No official announcement regarding the freight increases will be made, but inquiry among shippers shows that the following are among, the principal alterations. Bough measurement has been raised from 75s to 85s per ton; fine, 100s to 110s; lower classes of measurement, 60s to 65s and 70s. Steel and_ iron remain unaltered, but other weight rates had been raised from 40s to 42s 6d and 455. The. following remain unaltered: Motor-cars, agricultural implements, wirenetting, news print, cement in casks, and also a number of other minor commodities.