OCEAN FREIGHTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1939, Page 5

OCEAN FREIGHTS

NEGOTIATIONS SHORTLY IN WELLINGTON. THREE-YEAR CONTRACT EXPIRING IN AUGUST. 'By Telegraph—Press Association t WELLINGTON, This Day. Negotiations for the renewal of the freight contract for the shipment of New Zealand refrigerated produce to the United Kingdom are to take place soon in Wellington. The present threeyear contract for butter, cheese, meat, and fruit will expire on August 31. The discussions will be attended by representatives of the Government, produce and marketing organisations and the shipping companies. The principals of the four shipping companies concerned are now on their way to the Dominion from London to take part in the negotiations. They are travelling by the Dominion Monarch, which is due to arrive at Wellington on March 25. It is probable that the negotiations will begin within a few days of their arrival. The economic adviser to the New Zealand Government in London Mr R. M. Campbell, who attended the last freight negotiations held in London three years ago, is already in Wellington for the forthcoming revision of the freight rates. Another representative of the Government from overseas will be the assistant manager in London of the Dairy Sales Division of the Primary Products Marketing Department, Mr J. W. Rodden, who is also aboard the Dominion Monarch. The freight rates now ruling were agreed to in 1936, and they represent a 21 per cent increase on the rates for the previous three-year period.