HIGH FREIGHT RATES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2653, 27 December 1915, Page 5

HIGH FREIGHT RATES

TONNAGE COMMANDEERED By Telesrapk—Preffl Association—Copyricht London, December 23. Replying to suggestions in the House of Commons that the Government should control'shipping Mr. Balfour, First Lord of the Admitalty, said that freights had risen simply because the demand had outrun the supply. The limitation of tonnage wafe the real cause of the diffi- _ Criticisms had been levelled at the Admiralty because it had commandeered tonnage and thdn failed to properly uso it At present there was a Transport Department, comprising ship-owners of the 'highest experience, and their maiti duty was to_ obtain for the Army the necessary shipping for the conveyance of troops and supplies with the minimum inconvenience to the shipping trade. These transports were ordered by the Army .and served the purpose of the Allies, in the same way as the enormous . intricate system of railways did the Central Powers. The British Fleet and the mercantile marine had to bear the enormous responsibility. There is 110 doubt there had been wastage of tonnage, but an angel from heaven could not have eliminated tho (vastage. ■ He did not reject the proposal that the Government should own the whole, of the mercantile marine, but many difficult and complicated questions would arise, while on the other hand it was impossible to leave the whole mercantile fleet quite free. He was sorry the Munitions Bill had not passed, as it made it possible for tho building of merchant vessels for war work. Every day's delay diminished the amount of tonnage available and maintained freights at their present terrible lovel. The increased cost of innumerable .articles was essential to the proper carrying on of the war.