SIMPLE JUSTICE.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11569, 28 April 1903, Page 4

SIMPLE JUSTICE.

(We should not like to estimate the number of times that the Chamber of Commerce, supported by other -bodies and by public opinion, has brought under the notice of the responsible authorities the crying injustice of the rates on the ChriM-chureh-Lyttelton line. So far the efforts ntade to secure equality with similar lines in other parts of the colony have proved unavailing. To-day another appeal 's to be made to tho Minister's ren.se of jus-rice, and on this occasion the deputation have the weight of unanimous public opinion behind them. Those classes of the community represented by the Chamber of Commerce, A. and P. Association, Farmers' Union, and Industrial Association, form a very considerable proportion of the producers and consumers of this district, and there is the further representation afforded by th? presence on the Executive of the city members and the Mayor. If anything short of a determined and continued advocacy of tlie case in Parliament by the whole of the Canterbury members will produce the desired effect, the arguments of bo representative a deputation should do it. These arguments are unanswerable; the Minister cannot assail the position taken up by the deputation even if he still declines its request. Tlie length of the Chrjstchurch-Lyttelloii line is six miles twenty-six chains—say six and a third miles —that of the Auckland-One-hunga lines is eight miles twenty chains, or eight miles and a quarter. There is, as Mr Turnbull pointed out, a departmental regulation that in calculating rates of freight fractions of a mile up to half a mile are not to be charged for, and in pursuance of this rule Auckland merchant- are charged for only eight ir.iles on the Orehunga line. Chiiistchureh, Ihowever, m charged for seven miles on the Lyttelton line. Every carcase of frozen mutton, every bale of wool, every sack of grain costs more, to send away because of this breach of official regulations. Every case of tea, every package of drapery, every box of hardware, every imported article, in fact, that this community eats or drinks or wears, costs the importer, the retailer, and in consequence the consumer, more because the Department defies one of it_ own rules. Christchurch is ,in fact, penalised, for tho profit of the Railway Department, because her geographic-! position prevents the healthy competition of sea freights. No wonder tlie returns on the* Lyttelton line remain a closely guarded secret. To-day once more the community asks for simple justice. Let us hope that on this occasion the appeal Will not be in vain.