EXPORT FREIGHT RATES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 30, 29 October 1937, Page 5

EXPORT FREIGHT RATES

-Jt'rea* Association.)

Minister Explains Why Rise Occurred

(B7 Telegraph-

WELLINGTON. This Day. A suggestion by the chairnian of the Dairy Board, Mr J. A. Murdock, at a middle ward conference, that a 2$ per cent. rise in export freight rates was due to local factora and high handling cbarges, was refuted by the Minister of Agriculture, „the Hon. W. Lee Martin, in a staternent in which he says that costs in New Zealand have comparatively little influence on the total labour costs associated with sea transport. He points out that orewa are under English articles. Loading co*,3ts are influenced by New Zealand labour conditions, but not unloading in Britain. •Furtherinore the new watorside-workors ' award giving increascs in wages was made after the signing of the new workers' award giving increases in wages in Britain. Furthermore the new waterside-workers ' award giving Increases in wages was made after the signing of the new freight agreement. Wages and conditions were fixed by mutual agreement in Conciliation proceedings, so it could not te claimed that the Arbitration Court had imposed conditions above those the shipping companies were willing to concede. The new xates would appear to be in line with the general increase in costs, rather than of any particular costs in New Zealand alone. The Minister quotes freight rates in New Zealand and Australia for mutton, lamb, frozeu beef, chilled beef, and pork, showing that New Zealand obtained more favourable terms in each case. Australian dairy produce rates were not yet to handj but 6ubstantial reductions would have to be obtainea before their terms were comparable with New Zealand,