THE NEW RAILWAY RARIFF.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3954, 22 March 1884, Page 3

THE NEW RAILWAY RARIFF.

CiißiSTcnuitCH, This day. A meeting of the members of the House of Representatives and others re the railway tariff was held yesterday, when a. telegram from the Premier was read declining to postpone carrying the new tariff into force. Fourteen M.H.R.'s were present, and all agreed to telegraph to the Government the following:—" That this meeting protests against the new tariff, especially as regards the largely increased rates upon grain, because it lays a special burden upon farmers, and is therefore a class tax, while it is also in effect a tax levied only on the Southern half of the colony, and chiefly upon Canterbury and Otago. ,,

The following resolutions were also agreed t0,., with only one . dissentent, Mr J. E. Brown:— . : '

'' That in the opinion of thie meeting any increase in. railway rates which maybe found necessary or expedient should be so adjusted that, the railways in the Middle Island which are ■ earning higher rates of interest, should not be called upon to make up for the lower rates earned by lines in the North Island." .

: "That, in the opinion of this meeting, no such largo increase as has just been brought into operation, and which is really inthe matter of a tax, should bo given effect to without having been first referred to and appproved by Parliament." My Holmes pointed out that the Treasurer admitted that tho higher rates were to meet the deficiency, in tho Customs, and therefore was certainly a tax. -