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Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1920, Page 2

In a recent issue of the “Daily Telegraph” that well-known authority Mr Archibald iHuj'd considered the question, why should freights bo higher now than before the war? The explanation is presented under s.eyen heads: — 1. Relative shortage of tonnage owing to the failure to make good losses sustained during the war, and the number of vessel still being conditioned after the stress and strain of war service. 2. Inefficiency in working the tonnage owing to port congestion, 'Government control of coal, Government direction of voyages, post-war Government needs in the matter of transport, and labour delays generally. 3. Greatly increased cost of * ships and higher insurance values as a result. 4. High cost of repairs and inaintenapcjO. o. Increased wages for officers and seamen and heavier billy for their l'ooa and ships’ stores. G. Greatly increased dock dues, 7. Exorbitant charges for bunker | coal.. As to tlie last Mr Hurd states that the shipping industry is being heavily penalised. Before ,tho war bunkers .could be obtained at from 15s to -20 s port on. Since coal represents from 40 to -50 per cent of the outlay of operating ships under normal conditions, it is apparent that the price paid for bunkers is a matter of vital importance. Under Government control bunkers are now being loaded at fancy prices, twice or more the sums charged for coal required for internal industries. It i s concluded that the outlook for British shipping is none too rosy, for the in- j dustry is suffering worse than any other from Government interference, which j takes a variety of forms. At every 1 turn the shipowner or merchant ongag- j ed in foreign trade finds himself ob- 1 structed and made to do ridiculous and costly thinks. Both are to a large extent still in leading-strings, and those strings are for the most part, in inexpert hands. And, over and above all this, the industry is being injured by labour troubles at ih,e ports, on the railways and in the workshops, with the result that they are being kept hanging about for days and weeks on end, , incurring wasteful charges. An oxperi-

ehced shipowner calculates that every ton of shipping is to-day doing about 1 half the work of sea oarriage which it : did five, years ago, and every charge for wages, food for officers and men, coal, dock dues, and office staffs has doubled or trebled. Is it any wonder, then, that freights are high, even 3 though our ports are opened to the world’s shipping and the rates are those of open competition P Chautauqua closed its season last night, after a very excellent run. It began under rather adverse circumstances ow. ing to the misunderstanding and false impression which had got abroad in advance. Chautauqua is “something different” from the ordinary class of entertainment, and it won out on its merits. It brought a class of entertainment, at once interesting and instructive. The musical section gave interpretations of the better class of music for the edification of patrons, while the lectures, which, dealing with whfft might be called topical subjects, (brought light and learning to all those fortunate to be present. The speakers all came from a larger world than on'r own immediate horizon. They brought to us the knowledge and experience of the new world people, who within a very brief span of years, have settled a continent. The public speak, er can do much to enlighten the people, and here we hear far too little from the public platform. The Chautauqua, organisation - is able to select speakers of a wide experience from a brilliant circle of orators, and the first impression Hokitika has had of the selection is a very happy one. The ! speakers have all been gifted and veil ! versed in their subjects. The addresses j they made as palatable as possible, suj gar-coating the dry matter with much ! humor, native and imported. The speakers were always elevating in their idealls, pleading for the betterment of the individual as a prelude to the improvement of the race. It is not surprising to learn that Chautauqua is popular in 6,000 towns in the United States every season. It is organised on lines to give the people good hearty entertainment combined with the opj portunity of hearing inspiring addresses the seed from which must develope in all thoughtful minds.