OVERSEA FREIGHTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1816, 31 July 1913, Page 7

OVERSEA FREIGHTS.

PREFERENCE TO FOREIGN- GOODS? Sir, Walter Buchanan, member for Waixarapa, asked the Government yesterday in tho Houso of Representatives: "(l) Whether they will tako tho necessary stops to ascertain tho extent of tho freight concessions U) Continental countries which are being rnado by tho shipping companies trading to New Zealaud, such concessions being 'reported to be equal if.tliey do not actually exceed, tho New Zea'nnd Customs surchargo or special Customs duty placed upon, foreign goods_ under the. Customs Act of 1908? (2) Whether they will take any steps possible, either by way of an increase of tho special duty or otherwise, to prevent the purposes of tho Act being thus defeated?" The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher (Minister for Marine)' replied as follows:—(1) The question of differential freights on goods from tho Continent nnd .London respectively has been inquired into by the British Empire Trade Commission which recently toured New Zealand. It is thought desirablo that no action should bo taken regarding special concessions by way of freight until the Teport of tho Commission is received. Meanwhile special inquiries in the same direction are being mado by the Customs Department ivitli a view to future action. (2) A section dealing with special concessions, by way of freight, against British goods will bo included in a Bill to bo introduced this session to substitute the present Customs' Law Act.