FREIGHT RATES INCREASE

Southland Times, Issue 23297, 6 September 1937, Page 6

FREIGHT RATES INCREASE

Goods Coming From

United States

CHARGES APPLY ALSO TO AUSTRALIA

(United Press Association)

AUCKLAND, September 5. A general increase ranging from 10 to per cent, has taken place in the freight rates on goods consigned to New Zealand from both the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards of the United States and Canada. Up to the present Auckland indentors have received no advice of changes in cases of goods coming from the United Kingdom, but alterations in line with those effected on the run from America are expected. Merchants state it was necessary to make increases because of the extra costs entailed in the operation of vesseis, stevedoring and handling generally. The new rates apply to both Australia and New Zealand, thus alleviating the fears of New Zealand importers that indentors in the Commonwealth would be placed on an even more preferential basis. At the present time outward freight rates from United Kingdom ports to New Zealand are considerably higher than those charged on similar classes of goods despatched to Australia. In the shipping of produce from the Dominion to Britain New Zealand enjoys a corresponding advantage. It is considered that this system was brought about by the shipping companies recognizing the desirablity of offering every inducement to British exporters to maintain their hold in the Australian market against the local secondary industries of that country.