THE GREY RIVER ARGUS MONDAY, April 27, 1925. RAIL v. MOTOR.

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1925, Page 4

THE GREY RIVER ARGUS MONDAY, April 27, 1925. RAIL v. MOTOR.

In his anxiety to combat motor competition. the Minister of Railways is now endeavouring to readjust freights It is desirable, indeed that all possible traffic, should be carried by rail, but there should be fair play to every, body. There is rapidly growing a feeling of discontent caused by the rebates which arc being given to individual users of the lines. We under stand that if a. factory has 200 tons of buttci to go forward during the sea sol, and a motor firm contracts to car. rv it cheaper than the gazetted rail

way rates, it is possible, by undertak. ing to consign by rail throughout the season Io obtain a rebate which will bring flic freight below the motor rate. Yef another factory may be forwarding a small quantity of butter between the same points, but owing to the limited (plantitj it is consigning, i.|ay not be able to get as cheap a rate quoted by the motor contractor, and also be unable to obtain a rebate from the Railway Department. This factory naturally feels aggrieved. Wc would like to know whether the Railway De'part.ment is justified in charging different rates between the same points. State-owned railways arc intended fox the general use of taxpayers on equal terms. Cabinet, as trustees, have power to gazette such rates as they consider L just ; fied, but when they discriminate I between individuals, not by rates, but by rebates, they arc heading straight for deep' water. Tn tha case of any and every commodity discretionary tariff rebates have caused trouble in ,’nr.irl older countries than ours. For many years, a railway tariff has been

pro'-dsed, and it is now reported to bo on the point of issue. The public should see that the spirit of Stateowned railways is in this tariff not .made subservient to the whim of the Minisrty of the day. A railway tariff ■is nt any time a delicate thing to frame, and is usually an almost impossible book for a layman to understand. In the one about to be issued, the Minister has an opportunity to make a reform that will stand to his credit for all <iinc.