SHIPPING FREIGHTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17287, 30 September 1916, Page 8

SHIPPING FREIGHTS.

INCREASE ALL ROUND. RATES FOR WOOL. At a conference of shipping companies held at Wellington on Thursday, the scale ‘of increase in the rate for various freights was finally arrangedMr A. W. Bennett, general manager of tho New Zealand Shipping Company, who attended tho conference, when interviewed yesterday said that .the chief advance was in wool freights. The new rate,. which would be enforced on Monday next, was 2|d on greasy wool, as against lgd, and 2£d on scoured as against l|d. . In Australia the rates had been increased to 2fd .for greasy and to 3jd for scoured. General cargo rates had been increased by 33J per cent. The increase in general cargo rates from New Zealand was considerably less than that mado from Australia. -No fixed all-round Increase had been arranged, as each item had to be considered separately. Full particulars could bo obtained on application. Continuing, Mr Bennett said that five extra steamers had been chartered for wool cargoes from New Zealand ports exclusively, the vessels including the Copenhagen, leaving in December, the Century and Southwßite in January, and the Gogovale* in -.February. The St Andrew had also been chartered for January, but it was believed thatshe had been taken over by tho Imperial authorities. Tho London office of tho company was also trying to obtain two'more vessels for New Zealand wool cargoes. The rates to be paid for the hire of these vessels were more than double those paid for similar vessels last season ; moreover, the price of coal, which bad to'be paid by, the charterers. had also increasedIn conclusion. Mr Bennett said that so far tho rates for dairy produce remained as before, and the freights for meat wore arranged by the Imperial Government. ••