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Taranaki Daily News, 21 January 1916, Page 5

SHORTAGE OF TONNAGE,

.«•' '"MF.NT 'BY MR. UUNCI MAN. deceived Jan. 20, 5.5 p.m. London. Jan. 19. IVhen the handling of the Commonwealth harvest was fteing considered the question was raised whether Britain would commandeer the whole tonnage. Mr. Runeiman, in the House of Commons to-day, said that the question «;as considered with <• view to regulating freights, and it was decided tlfat it would only Aggravate the shortage if the Government took steps in November lo restrict the employment of British ships to foreign ports. Now the Government was arranging for closer coordination of the tonnage used for military and naval munition and food purposes for our allies and ourselves, and lie hoped there would he further economy in the use of requisitioned tonnage, and that an increase of ships would be available. The recent rise in freights was due to the large number of stealers which the Argentine trade had suddenly requisitioned for bringing nitrates from South America, tout they had replaced them with neutrals, which the higlicr freights attracted. The need for economy in tonnage in every department was imperative, Arrangements weje being made for the return of some dock workers from the front. . ' •