NEW RAIL TARIFF

Grey River Argus, 7 August 1925, Page 5

NEW RAIL TARIFF

O’BRIEN’S REQUEST For West Coast to be Heard IT.IMT. MINISTER'S DECISION. REFUSES TO HOLD UP SCHEDULE. Mr J. O'Brien. M.P., has telegraphed his Worship the Mayor that he has approached the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Contes) regarding the public protest ngniiist the proposed Increased freights ou coal and timber. Tho Prime Minister has also informed th” Mayor that as tho schedule was published nt the end of June, it will be impossible to postpone its adoption. However. he will bo willing to receive the deputation. Ills Worship tho Mayor (Mr AV. 11. | Parfitt) has dispatched a telegram to I the Prime Minister (Hou J. (I, Coates) I asking him to withhold the proposed new railway schedule until he has re ceivod tho West Coast di potation which is to wait upon him within tho next ten days, The Prime Minister has evidently decided not to hold up the new • aitway tariff as requested by tiie public meeting held in Ggeymouth on Wednesday night. Last evening. His Worship the Mayor (Mr. AV. H. Parfitt) received the following telegram from Mr. J. O'Brien, M P..—The Prime Minister refused to hold up roilwiv tariff and intends to put it into opera Lion as soon as (.'labinet lias approved of it. Pressed regarding the matter, he said that if the increased tariff would ruin trade he would consider the question of not putting' it into operation. The tariff will probably be ready to put into force before the - nd of next week. I would suggest your deputation to come before then.” The Mayor has replied thanking Mr O'Brien for his information, and asking him to arrange with the Prime Minister for a date for tiie deputation. (Special to Argus.) WELLINGTON, August 7. The Member for Westland, Mr. J. O'Brien asked. a s a matter of urgency to-day if the Minister of Railways would be willing to receive a deputation from the West Coast of the South Island, regarding the railway rates of timber and coal before put ting the new tariff into force. If . the increased rates a s suggested were brought into force, the West Coast would be in a very bad position indeed. Mr. Coates:—‘May I ask w hat organisations desire to interview me?” Mr. O'Brien:—“The deputation will represent the public meeting held at Creymouth last night.” Mr. Coates: —"Not from the timber millers or the coal miners?” Mr. O'Brien-—“1 dar e say all will be included.” Mr. Coates:—“As soon as the tariff is ready, it will be put into opeiation.” Mr. Smith:—“ls it ready?” Mr. Coates: —‘ Yes” but Cabinet has not yet considered it. I have considered about three parts of it. It will take me probably a couple of hours to finish it. Then it will be for the Cabinet- to express its opinion on it, and to classify’ the increases or decreases. as may be. If we were to adopt the lion member’s method. I'm afraid the tariff would rever come in.” Mr. O'Brinc: —“How long will it be before it comes in? Will it be a week ?'l

Mr. Coates:—“Yes, about that-, but, that is not to say that, if there is anything unfair or in opposition to trade that it Would not be considered, We want to get it on a. fair basis for those who can afford to pav. We want to distribute the weight' evenly and to get more earning power out of it. If any disrict or area is unfairly dealt with, and if trade or industry is likely to suffer, we will be prepared to listen to representations.”

Mr. O’Brien.—“Why not wait?"

Mr. Coates added that they could not waif, for deputations, but if there was anything’ that required serious consideration, it would be considered, [f it detrimentally affected any interests, the Government would certainly do its best to meet such interests. He suggested that those complaining should go to the Tariff Board, and should then conic and see him.” RUNANGA PUBLIC MEETING. Last evening a publie meeting wmi held at Runanga, the Mayor, Mr W. S Clark, presiding, to discuss the proposed railway freight charge increases. After several speakers had strongly condemned the proposal as most detrimental to the whole industrial interests of the State colliery locality, and particularly to the miners, who stood to lose more time than ever; a resolution was unanimously carried entering Hie strongest protest against the new tariff, particularly as affecting coal, and urging that the Crovernine.it review the new schedule before it is put into force. It was decided to forward copies of the resolution to the Government and the West Coast mem hers of Parliament, and to co-operate in the effort being mad' 1 to effect a reduction of the proposed charges. Meetings were also held of the .State miners and the co-operative miners on Wednesday evening at Runanga, and in both eases similar resolutions were passed.