MIDLAND LINE

Grey River Argus, 22 October 1934, Page 7

MIDLAND LINE

QUEST FOR FREIGHT CONCESSIONS. BY CANTERBURY INTERESTS. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, October 20. With a request that the railways should extend to- Canterbury merchants and manufacturers concessions in freight I'ajte.s at. present allowed only to Dunedin traders, a deputation from the importers’ section of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce waited on the Bailways Board in Christchureh yesterday. The deputation stated that at present on one day each week goods could he sent from Dunedin to Greymouth at 78/10 a ton, and the Christchurch merchant, although he was more than 200 miles nearer to Greymouth, and had at the present time to pay exactly the fame rate. The Board was asked to grant to Canterbury merchants “C” c!ass rates —55/1 a iton —on all goods dispatched from Christchurch to the West (’oast cu one day each week. That concession would place Ch]' stcliurch merchants on an equal footing with Dunedin merchants. Dunedin also enjoyed an exceptiona’lv low local rate for manufactured iron ami steel, including bolts, nuts, rivets, and patterns, it was added. With certain restrictions concerning quantities and loading, etc., that rate was 45/- a tion. while the same goodsj dispatched from Can ter bur v were carried at rates of 68/7 and 78/10 a ton. The Board was asked to grant a rate of 29/6 a ton which would give local manufacturers and suppliers a concession pronon'ionate to that given to Dunedin competitors. The deputation claimed that the granting of the concessions would considerably stimulate rail traffic from Canterbury to the WesC Coast for these types of goods. The Board promised to eons'ider the requests.