LYTTELTON-CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY RATES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVII, Issue 11227, 26 March 1897, Page 3

LYTTELTON-CHRISTCHURCH RAILWAY RATES.

TO THE EDITOE. Sir, — I have sometimes wondered whether we have not been too democratic in this country in giving every man a vote before he was properly educated as to the use of it, and when I read such letters as those signed by “Eegemus,” I wonder still more, for a more stupid concoction I never read, nor a more unpatriotic one. Is it nothing to Mr “Eegemus” that our trade should depart to IVellington ? It maybe be is a bloated capitalist, and therefore independent of trade, but I am not, and thousands of workers in Christchurch are not either. I will just give onr ignorant friend “ Regemns ” an instance of the removal of wholesale houses to Wellington, which lie so gleefully advocates. I refer to the firm of Nelson, Moate and Co., whose trade was so handicapped by the iniquitous rail charges that they had to shift. Now “ Eegemus,” ask the carriers, the packing - case makers, the tin - box makers, the printers, the thirty or forty hands they . employed here, if they are pleased with the change, and if they are benefited by the result. How any sane man could sit down and advocate such a course of procedure as that advocated by “ Eegemus ”is beyond conception. Who pays these exorbitant charges ? Not the people at large, says “Eegemus.” Don’t they. Well, all I can say is that if he is honest in his belief he must be as innocent as a little child and quite guileless of the ways and doings of this wicked world. But a truce to this. I ask “Eegemus” how can he defend the charges made upon the Lyttelton and Christchurch railway when compared with similar port lines in the colony, and I want to know if ho thinks it right and just that we consumers here should pay 50 to 70 per cent more than those elsewhere, and that our local industries should be handicapped to this extent, to the detriment of our children who want work here when they leave school. Ship them all away to Wellington, says “Eegemus;” it is a good thing to send everything there and only have one shop in all Christchurch —the Universal Co-operative Trading, Import and Export, Loan and Burial Company, capital unlimited.—l am, &c., SUMEGEE.