The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED. THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1916. SHIPPING AND FREIGHTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 2, 1 August 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED. THE EGMONT SETTLER TUESDAY, AUGUST 1, 1916. SHIPPING AND FREIGHTS.

Discussing the shipping iiucl freights, question in tho middle of June the London Commercial Record recalls tho fact that when war broke out in August 1914, freight operations stopped dead, and rates fell very considerably until the markets began to adjust themselves to the new conditions. At this time various expressions oi opinion are heard in London shipping circles as to what is going to happen in the freight world when peace comes. According to reports from Hamburg, merchant vessels to the large total tonnage of 800,000 tons are ready to take to sea again as soon as hostilities cease, and the German shipyards are working night and day to restore Germany’s mercantile marine to its former level. This may be true or it may not, but it must not be taken for granted that shipowners in Britain are doing nothing. At the end oi June the Cunard line was to. take over the Commonwealth and Doming ion fleet and enter the Australasian trade where there should be plenty of scope for its activities; and there has been a very strong rumour afloat on the Baltic Exchange to the effectj that a £100,000,000 combine for coalj and shipping is well on the way, some of the largest collieries and shipowners in the I niied Kingdom having made an agreement for mutual service, which is designed to extract the maximum benefit from both mineral and tonnage for the benefit of the Empire and its Allies as soon as the war is over. France, it is stated, "ill probably ask England to reserve a certain amount of tonnage for supplies and coals, and this following the fixing of maximum rates for the latter will surely lead to some permanent arrangement designed to stop German shipping having the run ot I'reach ports after the war like it used to in days gone by. England, ol course, being just as great offender in helping to build up the German merchant marine. In the meantime all chaitei--1 ing operations have been upon ;< veiy small scale,, with only a lew orders ! circulation for any trade, Iheie is certainly room for Government action in the icgulation of shipping and freights, but Governments are ne\ei ■ vow quick to grasp such situations a tln* present.