FREIGHT ON HORSES

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29878, 19 July 1962, Page 4

FREIGHT ON HORSES

Charges “Low As Possible”

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON. July 18

Commenting today on a statement made recently by Mr J. C. Robins, manager of Sevenoaks Stud near Blenheim, that the cost of transporting horses between Picton and Wellington on the rail ferry Aramoana would be "prohibitive,” the Minister of Railways (Mr McAlpine) said that, in quoting charges, Mr Robins had chosen an extreme example

He had instanced a fourhorse float loaded one way only, whereas a fully-loaded nine-horse float loaded bo'h ways—as could be reasonably expected when horses were travelling to and from race meetings—would reduce the cost for each horse to about £9 10s. Similarly, a four-horse float fully loaded both ways gave a cost of £l4 4s a horse. A seven-horse float fully loaded gave rates of £2O Is 5d a horse with one-way loading, or £l3 Is a horse with twoway loading. Mr McAlpine said it had to be remembered that the Aramnana was a "roll-on. roll-off" vessel and that all traffic must move on wheels The rates and charges therefore covered the floats as well as the horses

“The added facility of having direct transport from farm to farm or racecourse to racecourse is expected to represent an appreciable saving to owners.” he said. “It will obviate the need for arranging separate connecting transport in each Island and also the transfer of horses to and from ship as at present ”

Nevertheless, every endeavour had been made to keep the charges for horses as low as possible. Mr McAlpine said. The space occupied was the prime factor in fixing rates and on this basis the charges for horses already represented a substantial reduction on those for other goods occupying similar space on tile vessel.