FREIGHT FROM NEW YORK.

Taihape Daily Times, 21 March 1918, Page 7

FREIGHT FROM NEW YORK.

A Now York exporting firm lias written to an Auckland merchant, giving some interesting , information In regard to the freight difficulty. " Owing to the scarcity of steamers and even sailing vessels," the writer says, "the warehouses and terminals here are completely congested sand it is imperative to take delivery of all material as soon as it arrives which causes double handling. The truckmen have all advanced their cartage rates, and many of them arc charging for the additional time they have to stand in line at the steamers. The last steamer loading for Australia had such an enormous quantity of freight presented for delivery that the trucks, horses, and men had to remain in line for three nights and three days, realising that if they left the line they would lose the opportunity of making the shipment. When there is a shipping opportunity available, there is a tremendous rush of freight, as it is impossible to say when there will be further opportunities of shipping.

"The railroads have been in such hopeless congestion that the Government has found it necessary to take over the handling of same, and while we expect there will be an improvement in the future, it is probable that Government and military goods, food sturs and necessities will be given the preference over general merchandise. At present all car-load lots are under embargo, and it is even impossible to ing small shipments over the roads from most of the factories, and it is impossible to even estimate when the next shipments of unexecuted items can be arranged,"