SHHIPPING FREIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 May 1921, Page 8

SHHIPPING FREIGHTS.

CAMPAIGN FOR REDUCTION, EFFECT OF DELAYS IN DOMINION. London, March 24. Since taking up the position of High Commissioner, Sir James Allen has had the matter of freight charges to and from Now Zealand constantly before him. After several . conferences with shipowners, as a last resort £he brought Ih<> matter before the Imperial Ship* ping Conference, and wrote a letter to the chairman ip which he laid before him certain facts in his possession. He asked for an inquiry info the whole question—whethei the tnonopoly was stifling competition and keeping thp freights at a high level, whether it was ..i fgCt that the shipping companies be- '■ fortf war had been able to set aside I large reserve funds, and build new vessss out of profits instead of out of capital, and whether they were charging reasonable freights taking i’ito account the present difficulties they find t-0 contend with.

far as I gather,” said the High Commissioner in discussing this matter, “the greatest difficulty is the waste of time on the voyages, especially in turning round the vessels in New Zealand. If these industrial disturbances are still to prevail in New Zealand it will he Impossible co secure the reduction pi' freight which we might otherwise secure if the ships were unloaded and turned expeditiously. It means an increase in the cost of goods and a general increase in the cost of living, which reflects just as much on those responsible for the .trouble as oiAbe rest of the public. It terribly unreasonable that people s); 1 deliberately set thepiselves to hold' up these costly machines and pile up the «p.arges. . This is what I ata np ngainst in to get a decrease of freights, and I want New Zealand to know that shipping strikes are absolutely fatal io •them.” 1 Sir James Allen has received a reply from the chairman of the imperial Shipping Conference, who states that Lord and others will give evldwaz-e before the committee in April, and the whole charges will be fully ill’ vesligated.