THE GRAIN RATES.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7213, 26 November 1888, Page 5

THE GRAIN RATES.

.— ——-» j EXPECTED MODIFICATION OF THE TARIFF. [XBOK OTJE COaaJthPOKDKNT.] WELLINGTON, November 25. A question was brought before Cabinet yesterday respecting the rates charged for the conveyance of grain by the Government Eailways. Some dissatisfaction has been expressed at the recent change, by which the grain is charged according to weight instead of by the sack. It is complained by those who send grain by rail that thisnewcharge, although prof esseflly not in" tended to extract more money, nevertheless does so to an extent which is seriously felt bypersonsinterestedinthetrade. Itappears that increased revenue was really not the object of this change, but simply improved convenience in working. It has become the practice of grain growers to send sacks of such weight that one man of average strength cannot handle them. This does not matter so much at the large stations, euch as Christchurch, Lyttelton, Timaru, Dunedin, and Oamaru, where a large staff is maintained, but it forms a very troublesome obstruction at the small stations, where a very limited etaff is kept, and in many instances the excessive weight of the cornsacks has actually involved two men being employed at aloes to the Department, when one would easily have managed the work had the cornsacks been of more convenient weight. Consequently the Department lost both ways. It was to rectify this unfairness that the change was made. I understand, however, that upon a careful analysis of returns, &,c, it has been discovered that the scale of charges does involve an increase which was not intended (as much I believe as 7 per cent), and the Cabinet in consultation with the Kailway Department has had under consideration the desirableness of modifying the tariff in accordance with representations made by the grain growers of Canterbury and Otago. No definite decision has yet been arrived at, but there is reason to believe that in view of all the circu . stances of the case, a modification will be conceded in the direction desired.