FREIGHTS AGAIN RAISED.

Patea Mail, Volume XLV, 21 February 1921, Page 4

FREIGHTS AGAIN RAISED.

CHARGES FOE FROZEN MEAT. THREEFOLD PRE-WAR RATES. In connection with the increased freight charges on meat, the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company recently received a communication from the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners’ Committee, Wellington, intimating that instructions (had been received on the matter from the Imperial Government, through the London the London Tonnage Committee. Those instructions wore to the effect that it had been found that, owing to the absence

of cut carcases, the rates of freight being charged wore not sufficient to reimburse the Imperial Government, and it was necessary to charge the following rates of freight for private meat, beginning with the group of steamers to lie allotted for March loading:—Beef, pork, veal, boned beef and sundries, in crates, 1 .15-Kid per lb. net; lamb, sundries in bags, shoulders, legs and pieces, 2-5 d per lb. net: rabbits 184 s per ton measurement not. Those rates will also be applicable to the steamers to be allotted as the April group. They would not apply to c.i.f. sales already effected by the freezing companies, which would be carried at the following rates: —Beef. Ijd, plus 10 per cent; mutton and tegs 1 7-Bd, plus 10 per cent; lamb 2d, plus 10 per cent; rabbits, 175 s per ton measurement, plus 10 per cent. The freezing companies have expressed surprise that the freights arc to be increased, as well as at the advice advice that the rate for free meat up to the present was subject to 10 per cent primage and not 5 per cent., as mentioned in a cablegram from the High Commissioner on January 10. They consider the position to be most unsatisfactory.

The message referred to was to the effect that the Ministry of Food hud informed the High Commissioner that revised rates for the carriage of private the United Kingdom had been fixed as follows:—"One ami seven-eighths pence per lb for mutton, 2d per lb for lamb, Ujd per pound for beef; all plus 5 per cent. This meant a reduction of 5 per cent on the rates previously fixed, to which the Government had taken exception. In these rates the charges for mutton, lamb and beef respectively wore the same as quoted above, but with the additional 10 per cent instead of 3 per cent." The companies state that they thought the maximum in freight charges had been reached, and that they can sec no justification for the action of the Imperial Government in making further increases. They contend that -the authorities should have discovered long ago that the absence of cut-carcases would make a considerable difference. They protest strongly against the latest increase.