FREIGHT RATES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 10

FREIGHT RATES

Live Stock on Railways REDUCTION URGED Above Pre-war Tariff Reductions In the railway freights for the carriage of live stock were advocated by a representative deputation which waited upon the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, yesterday morning. It was pointed out that New Zealand freights on sheep, lambs and pigs were 50J per cent, above the prewar tariff, while passenger fares had been reduced to the 1913 level. Consideration of the representations was promised by Mr. Forbes, who pointed out that the Railways Board was leaning heavily on the Consolidated Fund, which was working on an overdraft. It was not desired to increase that burden. Mr. D. Jones, chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers’ Board, said that although the price for lamb on the Smithfield market was 1/- per lb. in 1925, and was now only 5d., the same railway freights on live stock existed in New Zealand. The number of sheep, lambs and pigs carried on the railways had Increased from 8,000,000 in 1925 to 10,250,000 In 1931. Freights on these in New Zealand were 50i per cent, above those charged In pre-war days, while passenger fares had been reduced tlntil they were virtually the same as those charged in 1913. Turned to Roads. Taking the North Canterbury sheep fairs as an example, Mr. Jones said that there had been a reduction of 57 per cent, in the proportion of stock railed to stock yarded between 1929 and 1930, showing that farmers were using the roads. Last year, 20 per cent more stock was killed at the freezing works than in the preceding year, yet the railway revenue on this stock only increased by £lO,OOO on the preceding year’s total of £400,000. The farmers should not be penalised with a rate which made it impossible to rail stock. The policy of the Railways Board was turning thousands of stock on to the roads with serious results to the local bodies concerned. The rates on live stock had been reduced in Australia by 10 per cent., and on store cattle in trainloads by 50 per cent. Sir Alexander Roberts, on behalf of the Stock and Station Agents’ Association, Mr. W. J. Polson, M.P., on behalf of the Farmers’ Union, Mr. H. D. Acland, on behalf of the Sheepowners’ Federation, and Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., on behalf of the inland freezing works, supported Mr. Jones’s contentions. Concessions Mean Loss. Mr. Forbes said that the position was a difficult one. The Government was anxious to bring down costs in every way that it could, and he would be pleased to take the matter up with the Railways Board. The board took up the attitude that concessions meant loss of revenue, which would mean that the loss would fall on the Consolidated Fund, which was already working on an overdraft. The Government wished to do whatever it could to assist the farmers, continued Mr. Forbes, for it recognised that the whole prosperity of the country rested on the farmers. They must be kept in operation, so that they would be in a position to take advantage of the position when an improvement came in prices. He would go into the question raised with the Railways Board, which was always anxious to work in with the Government. He explained that there were no differences of opinion between the board and the Government, and at the present time the question was a matter of finance.