OVERSEAS FREIGHTS,

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1919, Page 4

OVERSEAS FREIGHTS,

NEW YORK TO NEW ZEALAND The reduction of steamer freights from Now York to New Zealand ports, which was announced in a telegram from Wellington last week, marks a definite stage in tho lowering of the cost of sea carriage, as a result of the lormiuation of war conditions.

The freights from New York to the Dominion have been reduced to £8 6s 8d a ton measurement, and £7 16s 3d a ton. by weight. The former rate shows a reduction of £4 3s 4d a ton measurement, or one-third the rate charged in December, 1918. Prior to the war cargo from New York was classified, and freight was charged according to the class of cargo. The freights for the different classes ranged from £2 us to £3 18s a ton. In April 19] 4, the rates ranged from £1 12s 6d to £3 2s 6d a toil. After the year 1915 the classification of cargo from New York was discontinued, and freightwas charged by weight or measurement. In December, 1916, measurement cargo from the American port was quoted at £7 10s a ton. In July, 1917, i* was £lO 10s, and in April, 1918, it was £l2 10s. This was the maximum figure charged by shipowners. Cases haveoccurred hi which a. higher rate lias been, paid, but that lias been in instances in which a shipper has ocquirod more space in a. steamer than he has needed, and lias disposed of it on an advance on the rate paid by himself.

A reduction in steamer freights from New Zealand to the United Kingdom took place after the announcement of tho armistice last November, and rates for certain kinds of cargoes dropped 25 per cent. Freights in this trade since 1911 showed a marked increase as the war continued', and; in some cases, they reached over £2O a. ton. Hemp

and kauri gum may he taken as examples of tlie various increases, wliicfi took place during the war. Hemp freights advanced from £4 a ton in 1915 to £lO in October, 1916, and £-0 in October in 1918, falling to £ls in the following month. Kauri gum advanced from £2 10s in 19io to .£l2 10s in October, 1918, a reduction to £9 ss. taking place a month later. In October , 1915, the rates quoted were increased by the addition of a 25 per cent war surcharge, hut since that, year tli e rates quoted for freight included the war surcharge. In all cases the usual primage of 10 per cent .was added to the rates.

Freight from England to New Zealand prior to the war ranged from £2 a ton rough measurement to £2 15s. a ton fine measurement. In November, 1915, it had increased to between £3 55., and £1 2s 6d., respectively and in April, 1916, it was £3 7s. Gd., to £4 5s according to measurement. After that time a fixed rate was charged and in April, 1917, it was £6 a ton. It reached its maximum of £TO a ton in December, 1917. Since reaching that figure it has remained stationary. The above freights were all subject to a charge of 10 per cent primage an t ] they did not. include the marine and war risks insurance, which, in some cases, amounted to 6 ; , per cent .