FREIGHTS AGAIN RAISED.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1921, Page 4

FREIGHTS AGAIN RAISED.

CHARGES FOR FROZEN MEAT. THREEFOLD PRE-WAR RATES. In connection with the increase'! freight charges on meat, the Auckland Farmers’ Freezing Company recently received a communication from the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners’ Committee, Wellington, intimating that instructions had been received on the matter from the Imperial Government, througn the London Tonnage Committee. These instructions were to the effect that it had been found that, owing to th? absence of cut carcases, the rates of freight being charged were not sufficient to reimburse the Imperial Government, and it was necessary to charge the following rates of freight for private meat, beginning with the group of steamers to be allotted for March loading: Beef, pork, veal, boned beef, and sundries, in crates, 1 15-16 d per lb net; mutton and tegs, 2 l-8d per lb net; lamb, sundries in bags, shoulders, legs, and pieces, 25-16 d per lb net; rabbits, 184 s per ton measurement net. These rates would also be applicable to the steamers to be allotted as tha April group. They would not apply to c.i.f. sales already effected by the freezing companies, which would be carried at the following rates:—Beef, IJd, plus 10 per cent.; mutton and tegs, 17-Bd, plus 10 per cent.; lamb 2d, plus 10 per cent.; rabbits, 175 s per ton measurement, plus 10 -per cent. The freezing companies have expressed surprise that the freights are to be increased, as well as at the advice that the rate for free meat up to the present was subject to 10 per cent, primage, and. not 5 per cent, as mentioned in a cablegram from the High Commissioner on January 10. They consider the position to be most unsatisfactory. The message referred to was to the effect that the Ministry of Food had informed the High Commissioner that revised rates for the carriage of private meat to the United Kingdom had been' fised as follows: “One and seveneights pence per pound for mutton, 2d per pound for lamb, IJd.per pound forbeof; all plus 5 per cent. This meant a reduction of 5 per cent, on the rates previously fixed, to which the Government had taken exception. In these rates the charges for mutton, lamb, and beef respectively, Were the same as quoted above, but with an additional 10 per cent instead of 5 per cent.” The, companies state that they thought the maximum in freight charges had been reached, and that they can see no jutification for the action of the Imperial Government in making further increases. They contend that the authorities should have discovered long atjo that the absence of cut carcases would make a considerable difference. They protest strongly against the latest increase.