WAR RISKS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13592, 6 October 1914, Page 6

WAR RISKS.

[United Press Association.]

Wellington, Oct. 5

A meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of.Commerce this afternoon was mainly occupied with tho consideration of matters connected-with , war risks. Mr. C. W. Jones presided. An advice was received from the Council of the New Zealand Marine Underwriters' Association that a cable had been received from the Institute of London Underwriters, stating that it was necessary for consignees to apply to the Prize Court for release of cargoes ex steamers seized or detained, otherwise loss would fall on and be due to negligence of the assured, and not be due to capture. . The chairman stated that so far no reply had been received from the Minister for Customs to the request that cargo detained in Australia should be brought across to the Dominion at the ordinary ship's charges. Judging by the way in which the Germans were behaving,' the Chamber should put further pressure on the Government in regard to this matter. "~

Communications were read from the Auckland Chamber of Commerce,to the effect that inquiries were being made relative to the procedure necessary for bringing over cargo from German ships detained at Capetown. The chairman stated with reference to ships detained in Australian ports that the New Zealand cargo was being brought over by arrangement with the Government. There were; also some ships detained at Java, which was neutral territory, but he had no definite information as to the method of obtaining cargo from them. After consideration, it was resolved, on the motion of the chairman, that the Government be asked to make similar arrangements to those made with gard to Australia to have detained cargoes brought over from South Africa at the expense of the consignees, the expenses to be collected here. A letter was received from the Invercargill Chamber of Commerce; bringing under the notice of the local chamber the war risk, which was described as prohibitive; also the increase on the ordinary insurance risk and the ordinary freights now being imposed on shipments of . wool, tallow, grain, pelts, sheepskins, and rabbitskins from Bluff. Support was asked for representations to the Government^' to prevent prohibi- j tive rates from being charged. It was decided to reply stating that the matter was now being considered by ' a Parliamentary committee, but .that, the Government Mould be communicated with in respect to the Invercargill Chamber's representations.