PORT OF LONDON.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXV, Issue 18948, 6 August 1931, Page 2

PORT OF LONDON.

QUESTION OF HIGH CHARGES. United Press Association— By Electrle Telegrapn—Copyright (Received August 5, 5.5 p.m.) - LONDON, August 5. The commercial manager of the Port of London made a statement to the Australian Press Association, replying to the Traders’ Committee report. The manager said: “I am not speaking for the whole of the United Kingdom, because the rates vary, but as far as London is concerned, there has been a substantial reduction in the past eight years, including 71 per cent, on dues and shiprents in February, 1925, a further 21 per cent, reduction in 1927, and still another in 1930. Then the shiprent rate was further reduced in September, 1930. There have also been reductions in bulk handling of grain.” A message received last week stated: The Traders’ Co-ordination Committee on Dock Charges, including representatives of the Chamber of Shipping, the Association of Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of British Industries, and many other trading associations, complain against the continuance of the present high rates. They point out that there has been practically no reduction at British ports for the past seven or eight years, though wholesale prices have fallen by 34 per cent., and freights 33 per cent. Dues per ton on ships discharging whole cargoes of grain worked out at 5d at Belgian ports, 7.21 d at French ports, 5.02 d at Dutch ports, 10.81 d at German ports, and 19.73 d at the ports of the United Kingdom.