NEW MEAT FREIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1921, Page 5

NEW MEAT FREIGHTS.

PROTEST AT THE INCREASES. PREMIER CABLES TO LONDON. IMMEDIATE REVISION REQUESTOR By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Prime Minister to-day issued a lengthy statement concerning the rates of freight on frozen meat, and giving* copies of cable communications between the Prime Minister and the High Commissioner on the subject of the proposed increases instead of a five per cent, reduction, as previously promised. On February 12 the Prime Minister cabled the High Commissioner as follows: “With further reference to my telegram of February 11, meat freights, the New Zealand Overseas Shipowners’ Committee have advised freezing companies that under instructions from the London Tonnage Committee new rates of freights are to be charged in March and April steamers amounting to: Beef 6 per cent., mutton 8 per cent., and lamb 10 per cent, increase on the rates* set out in your cable of January 5. The imposition of increased rates instead of the reduction advised by you, is indefensible. Please make the strongest protest to th© Ministry of Food, and request an immediate revision of these rates, and the establishment of the rates as advised in your telegram of January 5. The matter is urgent in view of the adverse influence of this announced increase upon the market values of freezing stock and upon freezing companies’ operations generally.” The Prime Minister is now awaiting a reply to this cable, and should th© same be not satisfactory he will imme* diately carry the matter further