CHEESE FREIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1920, Page 4

CHEESE FREIGHTS.

AN IMPORTANT CONCESSION t By TeleßTHpn.—Pc««b'AsMcUtWU. " Wellington, Last Night. This evening the Prime Minister re« ceivcd the following telegram from tha High Commissioner, dated London, December 15: "Cheese freights.—With'reference to your telegram of November 11, I have made strong ■ representations to the "Ministry of Food and steamship companies with regard to the proposed increase. The former informed me that holds are being released to the shipowners for the_ carriage of this season's cheese, and I therefore continued negotiations with the liners conference, pointing out the disparity when the values of the products before the war and at present were compared. I also supported the protest made by the Home an# Foreign Produce Exchange, and have now received a reply frosj the Tonnage Committee to the effeot that the value of the article conveyed- Cannot be the chief factor in determining the rate of freight to be 'charged, as • tha cost of conveyance must be the ultUpate factor, and the proposed! 'rftte wa» abundantly justified on this basis. As compared with pre-war, steamers now costnearly four times as much, and the cost of running is fully three times aore, so that the increase is less than prepor* • tionate with the altered conditions,: The shipowners, however, do not wish to adopt an attitude which has even tin appearance of prejudicing industry, and as the Ministry of Food has givea them some freedom of action with regard t< cheese freights, the committee ask 'thether a rate 6f 15-J6d par lb„ plus 1(1 per cent, would b e satisfactory to the Government of New Zealand and the" shippers. If so, the committee is pre* pared to recommend the owners to accept the lower rate. The concession is an important one, representing on the exportable surplus figures given in your telegram of-October 18 a saving of over £123,000, and I would be glad if you will consider the matter with those interested and advise me if thiß reduction is acceptable." The Prime Minister stated that he will take steps, as suggested in the telegram, to communicate with those ihterested, and arrive at a decision. It is just possible that a further slight reduction may be made on.the rate inti- ' mated in the High Commissioner's cable, THE PREMIER'S ACTION, (Special Correspondent.) Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister received a cablegram from the Colonial Secretary, stating that the' new rates of freight on cheese between New Zealand and Stagland are not fixed by the Imperial government, but at'e quoted by shipowners for the carriage of the new season's cheese, winch is in the hands of private '-''ade, the holds being released from requisition for the purpose. Mr. Massey has replied by cable Urging that as the space has been relgttised ■ from requisition for the special purpose of carrying free cheese, the Imperial authorities should insist that thS rate charged should not be in excess of that which otherwise would have been charged under requisition. ' *■