LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 750, 24 February 1910, Page 4

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

/ RAILWAY RATES. - Sir)— Shortly after the Hon. Mr. Jlillar took VP*, the portfolio'.of Railways; a'depu-tation-of sawmillers. waited upon'him, with tho view of obtaining a reduction on • long-distance freights ,to tho main ports, to help the. industry compete* against imported'foreign timbers, and particularly Oregon*-" Mr.--:- Millar • gave the Reputation little'hopes o£ any change being made by • wav of. reduction,'' and hinted^that probable increases would bo ■made in order to make tho railways pay. Since then ho. has. repeatedly stated tho same thing, and-has now carried a uniform scale of passenger..rates,, to apply throughout, excepting for suburban traffio.;But now that uniformity has been applied to • passenger rates,- how . can tho Department justify the innumerable special ratesin'.force; with'- regard' to goods;; coal,; and 'timber? Tho. special'.'rates granted to various . districts,, as' : against-/ classified rates)'can only be 'given, for."reasons bestknown, to the Department:': But as tlio Hoii. Mr. Millar referred to -these,'. and', stated ; he, would . have' them looked ' intowith a -view.' to rectification, and '.nothing ; more has been heard of the matter, it is high time to remind'him of the incident. TVo sawmillers, for instance, on the Main Trunk line, are penalised', in - our. endeavours . to obtain a-., share of. the Auckland .trade, - tov the.-extent ; of : ' ; 4d. ..-.per; hundred, feet, as. against .tho v millers-on' the Rotorua . .line,. whor-have a special ■rata .of' 7d. per hundred ,feet, less; than 'tho.'.classified.. rate.' on,.timber' loaded ,'at,' Say, E'utaruru, ioi..the: Auckland,' market,. -.This-amply mean's 'that-.,the-Main ;Trunk: miller- south : of Matapiina has to 'contribute to the' loss of ; the ,'4d. .--per.' 100 incurred by v , tlie ' .railways' ino" tarrying i -tbe timber,.'and is also' that much' : worse off ! in -competition"' with'"thesc'njillers'in • the''Auckland' market.-'; Surely.' this is fan absurd anomaly (one of very many) that calls for'immediate'remedy, aiid'yet'ihothirig 'is;done! - Commercial men generally' and users. of - the .railways , who .khow anything"of' .the"" tariff."cannot:• help:admiring fight' yon are putting op-for;', the I ',removal of. political control, and .until, that is' accomplished,. it -would. appear to be ".hopeless, to expect, justice l-when all State £ are ' controlled from'.a political point of view only. —I am, etc., : V - SAWMILLER. Taihape, February 18, 1910. .