FREIGHT RATES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1586, 14 March 1919, Page 3

FREIGHT RATES.

• DOMINION PENALISED. EXPORTERS COMPLAIN. Press Association. WELLINGTON, March 14. The "Dominion" says that coiisideraVjle dissatisfaction is felt by exporters regarding the maintenance of high freights between New Zealand and Great Britain. Freights are still controlled by the Imperial authorities, who insist that large reductions cannot be made at the present time, but the Atlantic freights have been reduced very substantially, and New Zealand shippers suggest that there should be at least a corresponding reduction of freights in the Australasian trade. It is difficult to get exact information regarding the conditions that govern freight, but it appears from this end that American trade is being encouraged at the expense of New Zealand and Australian trade. The Imperial Board of Trade, as indicated in the cables, is extremely anxious to assist British manufacturers to resume their old trade relations and to gain new trade. ,It seems to consider that the Dominion markets are comparatively secure, and need not be cultivated so assiduously as Allied, neutral, and? foreign markets. A New Zealand export trader states that he considers that New Zealand traders are being treated quite unfairly by being charged exceedingly high freights,. and it looked as if the money was being used by the Imperial authorities to provide low freights on the Atlantic.