SHIPPING CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 October 1920, Page 2

SHIPPING CHARGES

PROTEST FROM STOCK COM- *? MITTEE. (Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 28. The Stock Committee of the'House, after investigation, reported to-day that it was of opinion after carefully weighing the evidence that the rates now quoted by shipping companies for privately owned produce was unreasonably high. These rates, when applied to the output of frozen meat, dairy produce and meat, sundries, flax and animal by products equal to that shipped in 1919, and the output of the whole equal to that shipped in 1914, would involve a payment of £5,143,202 in ex-

cess of the payments for freight made on those products during the year 1913. The present rates were in excess of rates ruling during the war period. It was in the best interests of the Dominion that a shipping line should be established which would be entirely independent of any combination. Government should assist such a lirte by a guarantee of financial aid or otherwise. The committee recommended that ship-

ping companies should be common carriers and be forbidden to allow deferred reba'tes to discriminate against shippers or to make unfair or unjustly discriminatory contracts with particular shippers.

The report was discussed at some length, Mr Ha when mentioned that the cost of getting carcases of mutton to London was about 4|d, while the best offer for meat in Britain was 6d. Mr Massey said he believed that if the present freight continued to be charged on exports from this country they would crush the meat industry. He intended to go into the matter fully after the session an<l ascertain what the shipping companies were prepared to do.