FREIGHTS TO BE INCREASED

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2877, 15 September 1916, Page 4

FREIGHTS TO BE INCREASED

SHIPPING CONFERENCE DECISION. Br Telegraph—Press Association. ■ Ghristchuroh, September 14. ■ The annual conference of representatives of New Zealand shipping companies which- was held in this city concluded to-day, and it was announced that it had been decided to charge increased freights. Speaking to a- reporter subsequently, Mr. T. W. Ben"nett, general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, stated that practically no rates had been determined upon bccause the rates in Australia have not yet been fixed. "We shall not be able to fix tho rotes for the season here until Australia has fixed hers," said Mr. Bennett. "It-is necessary to know what the Australian rates are likely to he, because if they are much higher than the present rates tonnage will be attracted to Australia to load instead of to New Zealand, unless our rates are proportionately increased. Such is the scarcity of ships that one colony is bidding against another. We .are trying to get extra steamers to come here, but if the freights in New Zealand remain as they have been, the lowest in ths world, oh account of distance, we can* not expect to get steamers if other countries are prepared to pay the samo, or higher; rates for shorter distances.'