SHIPPING FREIGHTS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2801, 20 June 1916, Page 6

SHIPPING FREIGHTS

—- » . . .; "NOT JUSTIFIED." / The matter of shippingJreights was. be- •- fore the Weliington Central Chamber of -, Commerce again .yesterday.- The Cham- - Ler resolved:. -■ v ' --Chamber desires to; .draw, the ...'atteiitiou of the;^Government'to tho.high j and.v'constotttly .increasing,' rates ruling .- for shippmg freights tb .and: from- New Zealand, and to the exceptionally large . prolits now being made by British, shipping companies* trading .throughout the .--. -world. '-- v j . I - , Chamber, recognises that the pre-' - ■ ' sent time is thought by the shipping companies opportune to levy high rates, and' that the British- Government's Tequisi- - tioning of a large percentage of the avails. able British -tonnage and, the , imposi- • - , tiqn of a 50 per cent, war tax are factors b ' ■ heing used by the 'shipping companies as . an excuse for; raising freight's. -This is reflected in the higll cost of goods which - is retarding .the progress of the Dominion, -■. and also explains to . tho purchasing > public the nigh .prices now paid com- : pared - with " pre-war conditions, whichunduly- adds to' the cost of living. •• ■' ''lint this Chamber'is of .the opinion ' 1 that in the faco of, the- shipping oom- . ..panies' unparalleled dividends recently disclosed, aitor ;paying the Imperial war ... tax of 50 per cent.,-and making full pro-. ■ vision for war risks, the rates of freights . now ruling are entirely, unjustified. - Chamber has in draw-ing;-{ho attention -of the Government to •the question is that when the time arrives the Dominion Government may ', ~'i bring its influence to bear , upon the councils .that will determine these mati ' > ters, with a view to adjustment, and that ■ the Dominion Government may. feel oon;4-':: ; fident it' is speaking on behalf of . the - commercial community, and .of the test interests.of , this Dominion. ; ' "A ajpy 'of this -resolution' to be sent to the Executive of the Associated Cham-, bers of Commerce of New Zealand, with a Request that' it approve of the forego- ; ing,: and.;that.it. submit the same to tho i ."Government -for favourable consideration." ' '■ .'.Y;