"SLAP IN THE FACE."

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 287, 4 December 1930, Page 8

"SLAP IN THE FACE."

CHARGE ON EXCESS LUGGAGE

AUCKLAND TO DUNE DIN. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) DUNEDIN, this day. A Dunedin citizen who returned a few ,weeks ago after a European tour says his most annoying experience was connected with his baggage on arriving at Auckland. There were three in the party, and their 'baggage weighed s:}cwt. He, of course, wanted it carried from Auckland to Dunedin, and this was done bv the Railway Department afc a charge which works out as equal to £43 16/5 per ton. On his travelling tickets he was allowed 3cwt, leaving 2fcwt to be paid for as excess baggage. The packages, as reweighed at Dunedin, totalled 2cwt 171b, and the exces3 charge on this came to £5 12/6, plus a checking charge of 8/, he having to pay £6 0/0. With exactly the same baggage the party travelled from Liverpool to Quebec and-across Canada to Vancouver right on board the steamer wifchiUt a penny of charge. „ , "It seems to me," he added, 'that the charge itself is unreasonably high and that if it were imposed on a stranger it would give him a feeling that, he ao in an unfriendly country. Right through the Continent people are trying to,save visitors trouble and male?, them welcome, and I felt a, little humiliated at the thought that tourists, whom we are supposed to 'be inviting, should have such a slap in the face at the moment of landing." -

REPLY BY RAILWAYS. "EXCESS CHARGE VERY LOW." (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, this day. In regard to the Dunedinites' railway baggage complaint, the commercial manager of the railways says it must not bo thought that the charges are applicable only to tourists. They apply to all travellers on the railways. The excess charge of 8d for each 281b. over each 50 miles is very low indeed for the service perfoftned, v:he:i it is borne in mind that the speediest transport is given. Passengers have the opportunity of consigning their excess luggage in the ordinary way through the goods depart-ment,-'but this does not give them the benefit of. fast transport or the benefit to passengers of, having luggage conveyed- with- them.