BRITISH PORTS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 6 August 1931, Page 7

BRITISH PORTS

ALLEGED HIGH CHARGES LONDON’S REPLY (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, sth August. The commercial manager of the. Port of London made a statement to the Australian Press Association replying to the Traders’ Committee report. He said: “I am. not speaking for the whole of the United Kingdom because rates vary, but as far as London is concerned there has been a substantial reduction in the past eight years, including 71, per cent, on dues and ship rents in February, 1925, a further 2jt per cent, reduction in 1927, and still another in 1930. Then ship rent rate further reduced in September, 1930. There has also been reductions in the bulk handling of grain.” The Traders Co-ordination Committee on Dock Charges, including representatives of the Chamber of Shipping, the Association of Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of British Industries, and many other trading associations’ recently complained against continuance of the present high rates, pointing out that there had been practically no reduction at British ports for the past seven or eight years, though wholesale prices have fallen by 34 per cent., the cost of living by 15 shillings and freights by 33 per cent.