Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17614, 29 October 1920, Page 4

MAI SI 1 FA COSA BEN INFRETTA CHE IL FUGGIR LA PESTE, E RUMORI, EPIGLIAR PULCI. (THREE THINGS ONLY ARE DONE WELL IN HASTE: FLYING FROM THE PLAGUE. ESCAPING QUARRELS. AND CATCHING FLEAS). SHIPPING TRUSTS. The very aame is repulsive, but I Quite agree with Mr. Massey (which is saying something) thai a little tactful manoeuvring with the Imperial powers may bring about some satisfactory arrangements. Mr. Massey has the Dominion's debt of £200,000,000 to handle, and the daily urgent requests for " millions for this and that." with standard stocks receding, and the price of products following, but taxation increasing with the price of money hardening I think it is just as well for us to look before we leap, otherwise we might be left sorrowful with an accumulation of products and probably unable to get an advance against them. The following letter appeared in your columns, December 6, 1919. which ventilates the question : — taxation AND SHIPPING. Sir.—l notice in press reports of election meetings that candidates are continually referring to the immense increase in values ' of products shipped during the war period compared to pre-war, and inferring that it went into the pockets of the producers. They overlook the fact about the increased cost of production, etc., also that about one-third of the increased value reverted to the Government in the shape of income tax, and a large percentage of the surplus was invested in war bonds, thus enabling the Government to meet part of its heavy war expenditure Unfortunately the debit still remains at £200,000,000- Re shipping combine. I am strongly opposed to combines. At present there is a d»aj of talk about this one, which is controlled by the brainy shipping magnate* of Great Britain and America (with populations aggregating about 150.000.000 i, and the capital of the combine nins into many millions sterling. 9?.. Dominion, with a population of one mrllion. and heavily in debt, is threatening what it is going t-o do by building its own steamers for freight purposes. Assuming it starts to build IS to 20 steamers, at lf-i exorbitant rates now ruling, and that while the ships are being built th« combine leaves the Dominion alone, and then, when its shipping is ready, starts to nurse j 5" j per . cent, below Dominion rates, and lands it for an annual lo*s from £500.000 to £700.000, and then finally buys th« Dominion fleet as a " >ob line,'* who would shoulder th» loss ? As there is art absence _of patriotic sentiment with commerce, it will always support the cheapest Titesot freight for competition purposes, otherwise it would go under. If th« combine showed any io°s it would be infinitesimal compiled to the Dominion cne, ai it could recuperate in other nuarter*. This threatening, to me. resemblta the two castaways on Christmas Island challenging M.M.S. New Zealand's pinnajice when crorng to rescue them Th? only powers able to tackle the shipping combine are th« Imperial and American Governments, and they are not likely to do so until things I pome bark to normal (if then), and judgnip by indications it is v«t a few year** distant. Under present conditions we should settle down to increase leave commerce to do the' shinning. The same applies to imports. Doubtl«s s some day combine will be fiehtrae combine, and when they reach IWrock rates, if possible, fix tnTn for a trm. as threaten in the meantime will only aggravate the position. t» « P. Virtu a. December 6, 1919. P-S. This is pot for advertising purposes- |

FOR EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL NATIONAL ELECTRICAL AND ENGINEERING CO., LTD., electrical engineers. WELLESLE? STREET WEST. Manager - . . - J. ALLUM. A.A.I.E.E. 'Phones: 2440. 2510, 1536. A 393.