FREIGHT RATES

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1932, Page 2

FREIGHT RATES

FOR LIVE STOCK ON" RAILWAYS

ADVOCATION FOR REDUCTION

v WELLINGTON, October 31

Reductions 'in the /railway freignis for the carriage of Jive .stock were advocated 'by a representative deputation which waited upon the Prime 'Minister, Rt. Hon. ■ G. W: Forbes this morning. It was poiiitecjijbut that New Zealand freights "on . sheep, lambs and pigs were 50|-per cent above the p,vwax- tariff, while passenger fares had been reduced to the 1913, level. Consideration of the representations was promised by Mr Fprbes, who. pointed I out ’ that the Railways - Board was leaning heavily on the Consolidated Fund, which was working, on a- overdraft. It was not desired to increase that burden. >'• ■ : .

Mi- D. Jones, chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers 1 Board, said that .although the price for lamb on the Smitlifield markeif'Was’Ts per lb in 1925, and was now only sd, the same .railway freights on live sock existed in New Zealand. The number of sheep, lambs and pigs earned on the railways had increased from 8,000,000 in 1925 to 10,250,000 in,1931. Freights on these in New Zealand were- 50} percent. above those charged in pre-war . days, while-passenger fares had been reduced until they were virtually the ; eame ; as those charged .in 1913. Taking the North. Canter bury shosp fairs as an example, Mr Jones raid pthat .there had been a. reduction of 1 57 per cent in the proportion of stocw railed to stock;, yarded, between' L 929 and 1930, showing that farmers we-e using the roads. Last year, 20 per fjcerit. morej stock was killed at the .freezing works than in- the, preceding - year, yet the railway revenue on this stock only increased hv £IO,OOO on the year’s total of £400,000. -The farmers should not be penalised ..with a rate which .made it impossible to rail stock. The policy of the Railways Board was turning thousands of stock on to the Toads with serious results to the local bodies concerned. The rates on live stock, had been re duced in Australia; by 10 per cent., and on store cattle in trainloads by 50 per cent. , . Sir Alexander Roberts, on behalf ot the Stock and Station Agents’ Association, Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., on behalf of the Farmers’ Union, Mr )• Dr Ackland, on'behalf of the Sheepowners’ Federation, and Mr H. G. Dickie, M.P., on behalf of the inland freezing works, supported Mr J ones’ contentions.

Mr: Forbes said that the position was a difficult one. The Government wa% anxious, to brihg down costs in every' way that it could,‘and he would be pleased to take the matter up with the Bbdrd. The board tookUp the attitude that concessions meant loss of revenue, which would mean that the loss . would fall on the Consolidated Fund, which was already working on an overdraft, The Government wished to do -what-

ever it could to assist the farmers,

continued Mr Forbes, for it recognised : tHat the whole prosperity of the country rested on the farmers. They must he kept in operation, so that they would be in a position to take advanage of the position when an improve-

ment came in prices. He would go into t the question Taised with.the Railways Board, which \yas always anxious to

work in with the Government. He explained that there* were no differences of opinion between the board and the Government, and at the present time the question was a matter of finance.