The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-07
BLAME HIGH RATES
ON PORT CONGESTION
War Requirements Upset Dock
and Labor Demands Say
British ShipOwners.
NO TONNAGE DEFICIENCY
Sp1cial co,respondence to Tnr srN.


LONDON. Jan o6.-That the demands
for oversee transport exceed the supply
on certain routes and that the abnormal
distribution OF tonnage which followed
the outbreak OF the war Is the Indirect
cause of high freight rates, Is the con-
clus.on reached by representatives OF the
shipping industry In a report just sub
mitted to the President of the Board OF
Trade
While taken as a whole the relation
Of shipping tonnage to trade points to
no deficiency congestion at ports Is an
important factor in hinderlng the fiow
Of trade.
Taken together the general oversee
trade of the world must have been re-
duced by at least as mucn as that Of the
/ United Kngdom--that Is. by about 80
per cent" say the investigators There
IL one further point that must be taken
, into consideration, and that Is the eff
feet ON shipping tonnage Of the diver
sion of trades France Is obtaining -
an abnormal extent its food and raw
materials from oversee italy and
Greece must be- drawing their whea.
supplies from across the Atlantic
instead OF from Black Sea ports Be
cause Of the difficulties which were until
recently placed in the way of the ship
.
terranean is Obtaining large supplies
from the United States.
THESE diversions involve longer voy-
ages and to certain extent the EN-
ploymcnt OF different types of ship. and
/ they have therefore created a new de-
mand. But, reviewing the position as %
whole. 1t Is probable that on balau,"
oversee trade has diminished more
than shipping tonnage. The rates Of
~ q 81
bear out this view"
Entering into "A more detailed state
meut The report says:
at must bee further borne In mind
that. apart altogether from the effect OF
! the excess of the local demand ,vor
the supply, there have been valid rca-
sons for very substantial advance In
( freights. as Tor example: ca The great
] advance In the working expenses Of the
voyage, including wages and coal, ,b)
. the great advance In the cost of shore
labor. Co the extraordinary delays in
/ port. Cd the prolongation Of many voy-
/ ages under Admiralty orders ~ avoid
! war risks. teD the loss of ptsscngc0
| traffic which caves the cargo freight as
the main source from which the cost ~
I the voyage has 20 pc provided ~ tho
/ serious falling on IA export cargocs from
; this country, CD the cost Of war risk
insurance.
/ High frr,ghis are very attractive. hut
! at the present time they are most spccu-
/ lltive. If reasonable desSdtch can be
/ obtained in the luudiil ana discharE ug
% biz prJtt can bc mai,. but great
| part of that profit can he swept away by
cciys. Further. the uncertainties as TO
the time the voyage will occupy makes
/ II Impossible 10 make business engage
ments ahead, and therefore the future
/ Is as much a gamble as the present. At
F substantlaly lower FIRE ghts the profits
would he as good, and tho business
would be on far souuder basis from
! the shinowners noint of view II the de-
lays could he avoided"
The congestion of traffic in the ports
/ ia regarded IS perhaps nrcess Try
F., consequence of the nations attempt "a
meet the military requirements for men
and appliances and AZ the same tim,
to carry on the ordinary oversee trade
! The Investigators point out that the
military demand tOr troop trains. store
trains engines held In reserve against
emergencies and for siding accommoda'
tions is heavy. In addition. the coalinl
OF the fleet has created a new and eN
traordinary traffic.
Admiralty requirements also are inter
fering seriously with the working OF
the docks At some ports, 81 IL 90
southampton. the entire quay space
has been taken for military purposes
Military requirements on labor ar,
heavy. Not only have many mel
been taken, but 81 Is the best OF then
who have gone says the report. Again
owing to the demands of the Ad
mlralty, there Is the greatest difficulty
In obtaining both officers and crews
Sailings are being constantly delayed
for this reason II Is clear that ever
IL further ships could be provided ther,
would he the greatest difficulty in man
ming them"
As remedies for the existing conges
ton the shipowners urge the poollnl
of all railway trucks and carts, thu
need for more barges, the provision %
temporary additional sheds. the re
moval OF the sugar stores TO inlanC
centres and AN inquiry as to the mini
mum number OF ships necessary 4
maintain the transport services.
The report Is signed by sixteen repre-
sentative owners. the Hon. Noel NJ
Farrs secretary to the Chamber O
shipping, and Sir Norman Hin, se're
tary TO the Liverpool Shipowners Asso
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