RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 178, 27 July 1923, Page 6

RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

TABXFX , TO BE OVEKHAVIXD. RATES ON DAIRY PRODUCE. ' (By Telegraph. —Special to "Star.") 1 WELLINGTON, this day. The Minister of Railways was interviewed by a large deputation reprei sentative of dairy producing interests , and members of Parliament with the ob- • ject of urging substantial reduction of , freight on butter, cheese and other commodities. The speakers pointed out , that the present high rates were fixed when the prices of produce were high, •but that they had now receded. As evidence of the heavy tax on industry in this respeot, Mr. R. M. Masters , (Stratford) stated that 3583 tons of butter and 913 tons of cheese went through the stations between Stratford and Ngaere, a distance of only six miles, this being only 14 per cent of the Taranaki output, yet it meant f2377 extra freight paid by the producers owing to the maintenance of high rates , when prices of produce had receded. ■Mr. J. He/wken (Egniont) asked the Minister to consider the reduction in I freight on rennet and casein. I Mr. Porsyth suggestedthat if these reductions could not be made generally ■ a concession might be given on locally, (made rennet. ' The Hon. J. G. Coatee replied that it [would be impossible to make anything j more than piecemeal reduction if the I matter was considered at present. The whole of the tariff had to be overhauledthis was being done, while at the same time overhead charges on various classes of traffic were lieing taken into account. , He believed those interested should have S, 1 " f ? re '* **» fi«d, and that they should at the same time be given derails of the Department's overhead ex-