RAILWAY TARIFF REPORTED ANOMALIES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 28, 3 February 1914, Page 4

RAILWAY TARIFF REPORTED ANOMALIES

Anomalies in the Railway tariff were discussed at last night's meeting of the Central Chamber of Commerce, arising out of a report which was submitted .by a committee. In presenting the report, Mr. A. Leigh Hunt asked the meeting to adopt a recommendation affirming that it was entirely opposed to the principle adopted by the present Railway tariff in using_ Railway rates for protection purposes, the Chamber believing that once foreign goods had paid Customs duties, and had been admitted to tlie country, that no further impost should be levied upon them in the shape of a penal Railway rate ; that the Government bo also requested to issue way bills for flag stations and to follow the samo procedure in reference to demurrage as followed by the Harbour Board. Mr. Leigh Hunt cited a number of instances in illustration of the anomalies in the Railway tariff. Dead poultry was charged twice as much as game : candles and kerosene were rated the same as chocolates and other luxuries, and dates, raisins, and currants paid the same as theatrical machinery ; vegetables paid more than fruit; the rate for corn sacks was 9s Bel, while 12s 6d was charged for wool sacks ; and a higher rate was charged on timber imported from Australia — hardwoods were a real necessity — than on local timber. The foregoing were only a few of the anomalies. To Charge protective rates was not logical, and was indefensible. Mr. C. M. Luke, while pointing out that a certain amount of revenue must be raised each year by certain means, said that there was no reason why anomalies should exist, especially in tho case of certain goods, which, if charged a protective tariff, might have the effect of hampering the development of the country. According to Mr. J. Reid, the Chamber was not unanimous on the question. He, for ono, opposed the recommendations regardiag the Railway tariff. At first sight there might appear to be a lot of anomalies, but if they followed them up they would find .that there were not really so many discrepancies. Mr. J. W. Brodie considered that the recommendations should be forwarded to the Minister in writing, and not made one of the subjects of the deputation, for fear of clouding the main issue : that of tho goods shed at the Te Aio Railway Station. Ultimately, upon the Chairman pointing out that while he did not agree with al] tho cases cited by Mr. Leigh Hunt, there- were certainly a number of' anomalies to which the Department might satisfactorily reply, the meeting decided to simply write to the Minister. Mr. Leigh Hunt and the other members of tho committee were heartily thanked for their comprehensive report.