INCREASED FREIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1916, Page 5

INCREASED FREIGHTS.

ACTION BY STEAMSHIP COMPANIES By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Yesterday. As has been anticipated for some time, a revision of the freight tariff will be announced shortly. It is understood that the Union,' Huddart Parker, and practically all smaller local companies will raise shipping rates by 2s fld per ton on the coast and that inter-colonial freights will be made uniform by the Union Company increasing their rate by os per ton. Passenger fares will not be affected, but will remain at pre-war rates. The increase is due to a combination of abnormal circumstances during the past twenty months, of which the outstanding feature lias been a steady general increase in the working cost of shipping. Wages of every branch of shipping afloat and ashore have been increased substantially, while since the war commenced heavy increased charges for bunker coal, marine engine and victualling stores, war risk premiums and harbor and light dues have been imposed, probably through the direct and indirect influences of the war. The Dominion shipping companies have teen called upon to meet an additional expenditure of close on half-a-million sterling annually. In view of the phenomenal conditions and the charges obtaining in other countries, New Zealand is still in a fortunate position. ON SMALL COASTERS ONLY. Wellington, Last Night. With reference to a Dunedin telegram about shipping freights, it is stated that as from Monday last the increase of Is fid per ton operates on general cargo carried by small coastal vessels, trading between Wellington to Patea. So far no definite increase lias been decided upon by owners of other smaller coastters trading out of Wellington, but it is generally considered that the rise is almost inevitable.