SHIPPING FREIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1921, Page 5

SHIPPING FREIGHTS.

aN IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. EVIDENCE OF INFLATION. By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright. London, July 12. The Shipping Freights Conference Committee appointed to represent New Zealand producers is: Messrs. Algar, Zvlakgill and Jas. Bell, of Hawke’s Bay. Owing to the early return of Mr. Campbell, M.P., he is unable to act. Besides conferring with the shipowners on the whole matter of freights, the conference will decide on the practicability and usefulness of setting up a permanent committee. In the course of the conference a quantity of figures were submitted by Mr. Massey and other Now Zealanders showing that freights had risen above pre-war rates 300 to 400 per cent., also that the ratio of the increases was far above the ratio of the increases in the prices of the produce. The producers were emphatic that something must be done.

Shipowners said the costs were so high that they were also losing money. They viewed with concern the position, because they realised that if the shipping of produce was unprofitable cargoes would be diminished. The reasons for the increase included the longer joufneys, the multiplicity of shipping ports in New Zealand, the heavy cost of building and the absence of outward cargo. These matters will be discussed by the committee.