SHIPPING FARES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21278, 3 September 1932, Page 12

SHIPPING FARES

Sir, —I have noticed on one or two occasions recently that there has been quite a revival in shipping circles in the Old Country, this after having read some little time ago that fares on some lines had been reduced. It needs no "economic conference" to explain that the J.atter has been the cause. It simply means that people with moderate means have availed themselves of the opportunity of taking trips which they had promised themselves (perhaps for years past), but could or would not owing to the higher scale of fares. I understand that the pre-war fare to or from England was about £lB, and wages then were about eight shillings s day. Now wages are round about twelve shillings a day, or 50 per cent above prewar, while the fare to-day is £42 lis, inclusive of exchange and the imposition of the Government tax. This is over 100' per cent above pre-war. rates. Is not the time ripe for a readjustment of fares, when everything and everybody else is practically down to -bedrock 1 , and more especially now that a drop in seamen's wages is contemplated. I know quite a few people in my own small circle,-both here and at Home, who are waiting for something to happen. We have waited for Ottawa, we are waiting for the World Conference, and then we will wait for—perhaps maybe another Matson Line to come and take the bread and butter from our own seamen, and the business from those to whom it should virtually belong. This is a matter which commands earnest attention, and the sooner the better for all concerned, including Moderate.