PORT CHARGES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 6 August 1923, Page 5

PORT CHARGES.

HIGH RATES AT AUSTRALIAN PORTS.

«T CABL3P—PBESS ASPOfITATIOfIf—tIOPTXIGHI!

m LONBON, Aug. 3. .The council of the Chamber of Ship ping passed resolutions regretting the continuance of the high port charge* light dues, pilotage rates, quarantine expenses and other terminal costs at Australian - ports, and urges upon tho federal and State Governments that such charges constitute a serious obstacle to the free development of Australian trade.

The council points out the drastic reductions made in similar charges in th>> country, which now do not exceed forty or fifty per cent, above pre-war rates : also drawing the attention of the State Governments that they are still charging light diws, although the Federal government has relieved them of the responsibilities of maintenance; also urging the New Zealand Government to reduce its light dues which were recently increased. The council communicated the resolutions to the pr^s with a statement that the Australian' light dues were £25 per rent, over prewar while the United Kingdom du«?s which rose 186 per cent, above pre-war' have been reduced to only 14.3 per cen-? above pre-war. Th'j council also points out . that freights on produce have been reduced by thirty-nine to seventy-five per cent ■ It l.- m the interest of shipowners to charge the lowest eeonomio freight ,but tor the Dominions to hope for any furSSrT^? C*lit>n Wl til they £ their port and other terminal tf' 7 hlt a{; Present are anabso-