FREIGHT RATES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 58, 6 September 1937, Page 5

FREIGHT RATES

GOODS FROM AMERICA GENERAL INCREASE . .'(By. Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 5. A general increase, ranging from 10 to 124 per cent, has taken place in freight rates on goods consigned to New Zealand from both the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards of the United States and Canada. Up to the present Auckland indentors have received no advice of changes in the case of goods coming from the United Kingdom, but alterations in line with tnose effected on the run frpm America are expected. VMerchants., state that it was necessary to make the increases on account of the extra costs entailed in the operation of vessels, stevedoring, and'handling generally. The new rates apply .to both Australia and New Zealand, thus alleviating the fears of New Zealand importers that indentors in the Commonwealth would be placed on an even more preferential basis. At the present time outward freight rates from United Kingdom ports to New-Zealand are considerably higher than those charged on similar classes of goods dispatched to Australia. In the shipping of produce from the Dominion to Britain New Zealand enjoys a corresponding advantage. It is considered that this system was brought about by the shipping companies recognising the desirability Of offering every trade inducement ,to British exporters to maintain their hold in the Australian market against the local secondary industries of that country.