REVISED FREIGHT TARIFF

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2751, 20 April 1916, Page 6

REVISED FREIGHT TARIFF

TO BE ISSUED SHIP-OWNERS. By Teleuranli—Prcaa Association. Dunedin, April 20.' As has been anticipated for some time, a revision ,of the freight tariff will be announced shortly. . It is un-. derstood the Union Company, Huddart, Parker Company, ' -and practically all the smaller local companies will "raise the shipping rates by 2s. 6d. per ton on the coast, and that the intercolonial lreignts will be made uniform' by the Union Company increasing the'rate by js. per ton. Passenger tares will not bo aftected, and will remain at pre-waj rates. v The increase in freight charges is duo to thti aggregation of-abnormal circumstances during the past twenty months, in which the outstanding feature has been a steady general increase in the working cost of shipping. The wages of every branch of shipping afloat and ashore have been increased substantially, while since the war commenced the heavy increased charges tor bunker coal, marine engine, and ! victualling stores, waj risk premiums, | harbour and light dues have been imposed. It is probable that, through direct and indirect • influences of the war, the Dominion shipping companies have been called -upon to meet an additional expenditure of close on half a million sterling annually.-: •In view of the phenomenal conditions and charges obtaining in other countries, New Zealand is still in a fortunate position.