RAILWAY FREIGHT CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 160, 8 July 1932, Page 5

RAILWAY FREIGHT CHARGES.

CRITICISM IN OPOTIKI. "ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS." (From Our Own Correspondent.) OPOTIKI, Thursday. Strong criticism of the railway freight charges was heard at the annual meeting of the Opotiki Fire Board when, ae accounts were being dealt with, the chairman, Mr. Clay, asked for particulars of tho charges for sending four truck wheels to Auckland by boat and returning them to Opotiki by railway. Investigation showed that the freight on four wheels by boat was 0/9, with 2/0 for cartage to the wharf. Five wheels, with tyres, were eent by railway, and the Railway Department's charge was £3 15/0. In addition, there was the cost of cartage from Taneatua, amounting to 10/. The chairman eaid that the railway people were continually asking people to support the railways, and yet they made that ridiculous charge. When the wheels went up they were minus tyres, and when they came back there were five wheels with tyres. If they had been dispatched by boat the freight would have been about 13/0. Mr. S. Shalfoon eaid the ehargee made by the railways were ridiculous. He could not sell goods at the prices that would be necessary if railway freight rates were paid. "I think," he said, "we could eend a lorry from Auckland for less money." Mr. Hogg said it was a question of whether they were going to support the railways or not. The chairman suggested that they write to the Railway Department drawing attention to the matter, "putting it nicely." This was agreed to. Mr. Hogg: The railways are overcapitalised. They have got to charge enormous rates to pay interest.