253
4. The following instance will show that the "Conference" lines will not even allow to an English manufacturer the advantage of shorter railway carriage to the port of Shipment. When freights on general merchandise by rail from Staffordshire were 10/- to London and 7/6 to Liverpool I am informed that the Conference increased the Steamship freight on Staffordshire goods from Liverpool by 2/6 per ton. It may be broadly stated that so far as a country's trade can be strangled by adverse discrimination, British trade to the East is being affected by the action of the British and Foreign steamship lines belonging to the Conference and controlling the Far Eastern Trade,
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your Most Obedient,
Humble Servant,
Arsabe
GOVERNOR, &c.