The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1916 THE SHIPPING DIFFICULTY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 22, 20 December 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1916 THE SHIPPING DIFFICULTY.

In a late issue of the London Commercial Record, it is stated that it has come to be very generally recognised that the welfare of Britain depends more than ever upon tho mercantile marine, just as its safety is closely hound up in the activity of tho -' ;n y > and tho position oi freights is daily becoming more and more interesting. The Government have practically taken over the whole of the ships available, but for some reason or* the other no scheme of maximum rates, which shall apply to all vessels, has yet been forthcoming. Mr Ruuciman stated in «- written reply ho made to a question m tiio House of Commons a few weeks ago that the average rates of freight on -rain from the River Plate ports were as follows; July, 1914, IDs 6d per ton; July, 1916, 55s 8d; J u ‘>' ’ 1916, 150 s 6d • and for the week ended, October 14, 117 s 6d. These figures, of course, relate to full cargoes, and, the Record maintains, they are pregnant with the whole story of shipping mismanagement. if shipowners were willing to accept tho low ratefirst mentioned before the war, it is obvious that an increase of no less than hi per ton is simply outrageous; hut apparently it has never struck the powers that be that the remedy is in their hands and lias been there all the time., ft is true that wages, coal, oil, charges, and many other things have risen in value since the war started, but they have not advanced suflieienvly to justify tho enormous rates demanded by shipowners, both British and neutral, and it is perfectly obvious that some drastic measures will finally have to he resorted to in order to ensure that food and supplies necessary to carry on the war shall be carried at reasonable rates. So far as .New Zealand is concerned, the trouble is that we cannot get the ships to carry our produce even at the cxoiin taut freight rates now ruling.