COUNCIL INDIGNANT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 224, 21 September 1929, Page 12

COUNCIL INDIGNANT.

RAILWAY RATES RAISED." i ...... \i TRANSPORT OF METAL. \l ' f PROTEST TO MINISTER. <7 — (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WHAKATANE, Friday. Indignation at tile Railway Department's decision to charge higher rates for the transport of metal was expressed at the meeting of the Whakatane County Council yesterday afternoon. Mr. -W. A. McCracken said the whole country was iieing victimised simply because produce had been shipped through the port by the Rangitaiki Dairy Company, instead of being sent by rail. A letter from the district public, works engineer stated: "Now that most of the produce of the Rangitaiki Plains is being shipped from Whakatane the roads -in that district will cbme under the head of competitive roads instead of, as formerly, feeder roads to the railway, and this will mean that full 'Q' rates will have to be paid by your council to the Railway Department on metal haulage from Pekatahi for these roads." Two considerations were involved, said Mr. McCracken. The action to which exception had been taken was that of one company. On the other hand harbour was carrying a liability which had to be met. He suggested the Minister of Public Works should be notified of the action the officials had taken, and strenuous opposition should be raised by the council against the proposed increase in the freights. The Railway Department had taken a narrow view, said Mr. J. Cliff McCulloeh, and the Minister should be informed of the effort made to-reduce the burden of harbour, rates. The dairy company was acting in the interests of its suppliers and was quite justified in its action. - When the Maungarqa-Taneatua Road' was finished it would probably be 1 cheaper to transport metal from Pekatahi bv road, said Mr. A. Peebles, and the matter should right itself. This view was supported by the engineer's opinion. The road "would be in Dcomber.

Doubt about the advisability of increasing the wear on the roads was expressed by ; Mr.; P. A. Baird. (The-De-partment had been unjust in penalising the whole district, when-its quarrel was really .with only a part of it. Also it should be remembered . that other districts were transporting their produce by road and were not suffering at the hands of the Department. On the-motion of Mr.-McCracken it was decided that a copy of the letter should be sent to the Minister of Public Works, accompanied by a covering letter of protest. I.t was also decided to send copies to the member of Parliament for the district. r