NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18625, 5 August 1922, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING

THE HEAVY FREIGHT RATES. STATEMENTS BY PRIME MINISTER. CPs* United Pbese Association.) WELLINGTON, August 4. “My attention has been drawn to an article in the press stated to be from authoritative Shipping companies,” said Mr Mas-sey-to-day, “which purports to correct my statement in the . House when I compared the l percentage of increase over pre-war in the rates of freight from New Zealand to the United Kingdom with tile percentage of increase over pre-war in the rates and freight fronl the Argentine to the United Kingdom. I can quite believe that ships in the River Plato trade are guaranteed full cargoes of refrigerated produce, and I am quite well aware that the skips have to load and discharge at more ports in the New Zealand trade than in the Argentine trade, but my information from London is to the effect that these • and other conditions favourable to the River Plate ships prevailed in pre-war days as well as to-day. Therefore, my comparison stands. My comparison was that the rate increase over tlio pre-war rates was as follows:

New Zealand- ArgentineUnited United i Kingdom. Kingdom. Mutton ... ... 151 75 Lamb ... ... ... 148 75 Frozen sundries ... 182 to 2SB 40 Canned., meats ... Tallow 300 17 “I affirm that such increased charges are unreasonable, and have the effect of penalising the New Zealand producers to s tho advantage of their foreign competitors, “In regard to the point that ships in the Fiver Plate trade are guaranteed full cargoes the conditions in New Zealand have been such that it has for years been unknown. for a Homo liner to leave Now Zealand without her refrigerated space being full to the hatches unless for some special reason and to suit the convenience of the Shipping companies. The _ rate of freights on Egyptian cotton was given to mo by a cablegram from London, and I believe, to bo unite correct, it gives an instance of the low rates at which cargoes arc being carried at the other side of the world. “In regard to the deputation to me from the recent Fanners’ Union Conference, which reaffirmed their policy of a shipping line to be owned by tire producers, I wish to make it clear that the deputation made a special point that Government financial jwc-istanee was not asked for. The deputation asked for legislative action to enable the farmers to rate themselves for this purpose, and this request has to coma before Cabinet.”