COAL FREIGHTS

Evening Post, Issue 88, 12 April 1924, Page 13

COAL FREIGHTS

A REDUCTION ASKED

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER OF ; ' RAILWAYS.

•The chairman of the executive of the Uas Conference Association'(Mr 0 Pratr nell, of Masterton), and' the secretory of" the conference, Mr., J.v W BlacfcnW waited on the Minister of RaifwaysTes- - 6"o^ Masterton Woodville, ,Palmerstl North'" Danneyn-ke Wangahui, and 'Waipawa' The association desired' a reduction of the general railway freights on'coal, and the elimination of the penal rate on-New-castle coal The increase in- railway Ireights. had been maintained -since the war He stated the freights on coal to Jlasterton, Palmerston. and Dannevirke Ihe present freight bore heavily on municipal gasworks. The..railways .carried lignite coal at a low rate/ but, of course tlut coal was not suitable- for o- as puvTrrn , lhe used over 50,C00 tons of coal a year, and they were espo Cl ally penalised by the extra freight tioii of. Newcastle coal. . ■ ■ Mr. Black explained that for the proper carrying on °fi>he gas-making industry they must ha^e a certain proportion of Newcastel coal. ! ♦i,1^? 1011- Mr< dates'.replied' that he, ocaTr 7 6 *o f °W;«'«»™'|e the use of' local coa ; but the representations ,of the deputation would be considered'in connection with the railway tariff, which vas now under review ■ ;■' Mr. G. R-: Sykes, .M.P., who was preBent,with. the deputation, pointedP PutOut that the -penal rates affected hardwood timber as well as coal, and these special Ucufariy affeCt°d C°mtVy dist"^spar-