MIDLAND LINE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17939, 6 December 1923, Page 8

MIDLAND LINE.

BACK-LOADING RATES.

(SPSCUI 10 "THE PEESS.-J HOKITIKA, December 5. Several leading Hokitika citizens are mildly .-.mused at the attitude token up by Mr J. Steer, chairman of the Greymouth Harbour Board, regarding tiie proposed reduction in back-loading rates. Thev state that Hokitika residents in the aggregate are somewhat indifferent to Greymouth, but are- still prepared to extend co-operation in any reasonable demand by the northern town. They are not sufficiently foolish, however, not to appreciate a good bargain when such can be obtained. When Greymouth requires a helping hand she has onlv to ask for it, and the southern town will b© as ready as in the past. Mr R Wild, who was asked to-day if the opposition to the desire for lower back-loading rates was worthy of turther notice, said that what HoiutiKa merchants appreciated was the tact that the disadvantage under which \,hey were competing with Greymouth business men had largely been disposed or by the opening of the Otira tunnel, and both towns were now on a fairly even footing with regard to the trade with intermediate towns such as Kumara. It was believed that this was where the shoo was pinching. A comparison of freights and charges would serve to demonstrate the origin of the Tibetan frame of mind of one or two Greymouth citizens. Whereas it cost 16s 2d wharfage and railage on a ton of goods between Greymouth and Hokitika on articles arriving by sea, the extra freight on goods from Canterbury by rail between Hokitika and Greymouth was only 2s i/u, thus a savng of X3s 5d was effected, which amount weighed heavily with Hokitika merchants when it came to the question of sea or rail transport. Putting it in another way, the cost of bringing a ton of goods from Canterbury to Greymouth by steamer is £1 ss, and to Hokitika, with wharfage and railway freight, £2 Is 2d, while the railway charges are £2 4s lid and £2 7s 7d respectively. Thus whereas by 6teamer Greymouth has an advantage over Hokitika of 16s 2d per ton, the completion of the tunnel has enabled merchants in the southern town to reduce the advantage to one-sixth. The railway connexion was benefiting most these furthest away from Canterbury, and it was to Reefton and Hokitika I that the Railways Department must I look for its revenue to make the line pryable.