There were about 20000 tons of deviated cargo to be landed in Shanghai, the importer continued, and if this rate were still imposed by the China Homeward Freight Conference, it would mean a big loss for local trading companies. Metal importers, he stated, had already made representations against the rate imposed.
From shipping sources the "North-China Daily News" learned that the member companies of the China Homeward Freight Conference were not expected to make a profit out of the deviated cargo: in fact, there would be a loss in some instances. The rate imposed, it was pointed out, placed all traders on the same basis, and in the opinion of the Conference was entirely fair under the circumstances.
"The Conference have done their best for the importers", the "North-China Daily News" informant pointed out, "and if all are not satisfied, it is not the fault of the conference. As for the rate working unfairly for metal importers, shipping companies find that metal is a far more difficult and expensive cargo to handle than, say, piece goods."
The rate, it was ascertained, was imposed by the committee of the China Homeward Freight Conference at Hongkong.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.