Higher Freights

Severe increase For Copra Growers

T>ACIFIC copra producers are con fronted with a serious rise in freights.

The rates for copra, between Pacific and European ports,, have risen about.4o per cent in recent weeks; and our informa tion is that they will go still higher.

Despite the employment of every avail able freighter, and the activity of ship builders all over the world, there appears to be actually a shortage of shipping, and freight rates have risen accordingly.

It is said, fqr example, that Australian Avheat shippers already are offering 50/per ton for the freighting of the next harvest from Australia to Europe. And a wheat cargo from the shipowner’s view point. is far preferable to copra. Wheat can be picked up in one place, in a few days. Copra usually has to be gathered up slowly, at many ports.

Copra growers may reconcile them selves to paying anything from £1 to £2 more per ton, on account of freight.