PORTS AND FREIGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 12

PORTS AND FREIGHTS.

FLAT RATE CHARGES, CHANGE CONSIDERED UNLIKE,LY. [BV TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE, Monday. Tho Gisbornc Harbour Board has received a letter from the head ofhco of the Shaw, Savill and Albion Company in London on the subject of the proposed abandonment of tho flat rate of freight charges to New Zealand ports. Tho company states: "To be quite candid, wo think Gisborno and other wayside ports are unnecessarily alarmed at tho action of tho Wellington Harbour Board, as not for a moment can we believe that New Zealand as a whole will agree to give tho producers in tho neighbourhood of main ports a certain preference over producers at roadstead ports.

" From the shipowners' point of view we probably would welcome an arrangement that would effect the curtailing of tho ports of loading and coastwise steaming, but this is a matter not controlled by tho shipowner, as he is expected to cater for trado efficiently in fair or foul weather, and to present his ship to lift cargo at such points as it arises.

" We cannot believe for ono moment that differentiation can possibly bo made in favour of main ports to the detriment' of other ports, and shall bo very much surprised if any legislation will bo forthcoming that will in any way change the present system, under which tho smaller ports enjoy tho same privileges as tho larger ones."