WAR FREIGHTS.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 9 July 1917, Page 3

WAR FREIGHTS.

CONTROL OF SHIPPING. WELLINGTON July 5 The Hon. D. Buddo, who described himself in the House to-night as a formers' member, spoke strongly in favour of New Zealand directly owning its ocean liners as soon as possible. Shipping companies had taken their "pound of flesh" during the war. Wool freights, which before the war amounted to 19/4 for a bale of average weight, had gone up to £3 13s 2d for the same weight, or moie than treble. Dr. Thacker: What's the bale worth? Mr. Buddo: "That's quite foreign to the question." (Laughter.) New Zealand, he continued, was absolutely at the mercy of foreign companies 3

which would work to our advantage. The time had come to fight, this combination, and now was the time to get to work. An offer had come from a large shipbuilding firm in England to assist in the proposed New Zealand line of steamers, but, if English capital were taken, we might be just as badly off. Difficulties could be overcome if the major portion of the shares were held by exporters and large farmers combined with importers.