SHIPPING FREIGHTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23685, 17 December 1938, Page 23

SHIPPING FREIGHTS

INCREASE ON NEWSPRINT TRANSFERENCE OF PORT CHARGES IMPORTANT LONDON DISCUSSIONS (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON,. Nov. 17. Commenting on persistent reports that there are to be increases in the rates of freight for outward cargo from Britain to New Zealand, and that an extra charge of 2s per ton is to be charged for freight unloaded at Auckland and Wellington owing to the cost of discharging, a representative of the shipping companies said:— "Negotiations are at present taking place in London and Canada between shipping companies and the shippers of newsprint with regard to increasing the freight rate for newsprint from 37s ,6d per ton to 42s 6d per ton. An announcement on the decision reached will probably be made during the next two weeks. There is no discussion at the moment regarding an increase in the rates of freight on other outward cargo. "It js a fact that there is to be an adjustment with regard to the sorting and staking charges at Auckland, and the harbour improvement rate at Wellington. These, at present, are about 2s per ton, and are borne by the shipowners at those ports. It is proposed that in future this rate shall be passed on to the consignees at those two ports, thus putting them on the same basis as consignees at other ports where these charges have to be met." It was also stated that the transference of these charges at Auckland and Wellington is not, in any way, the result of waterside disputes at those ports.