THK FREIGHT QUESTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 98, 28 April 1891, Page 2

THK FREIGHT QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sin, — Mr Lifccbfield's addresg to the Committee of the A. and P. Association strikes an impartial reader as one having for its main object an all round abuse of the Union Steamship Company, regardless of the alleged statements being right or wrong. Half truth is more deserving of censure than an open falsehood. Although not m a position to be so well up m freight points as the speaker, yet one item I know to be wrong. Freight, Lyttelton to Wellington, is one shilling per sack, not tenpence, as .against ninepence from Picton ; and, if he be wrong m one point, others may bo taken with a grain of salt, or at any rate until the other side has been heard. Great stress is laid upon the Lyttelton to Sydney grain rate being one, shilling per sack, while two shillings is asked from Blenheim. Possibly the octopus body wquW carry from the latter port at one shilling if a 1500 to 2000 ton steamer could work the rivor, and as evidence they would do so, I hear the Eotokino was offered to be sent to Pieton at one shilling per saok provided our merchants could make up a reasonable tonnage, yet not 200 tons was available. As regards rates from Blenheim by the river steamer, I should say the latter are running at a loss, judging from the delays and constant strandings through the state of the bar. Have not the Union Company done their best to develop direct communication with our inland town? They designed and got out a steamer to work it m connection with the Waihi at a considerable outlay of capital, m hopes that the navigation of the river and bar might bo improved, and yet the authorities will not do one iota towards clearing the river even to the removal of snags, at a cost of a few pounds ; the result is, Kanieri is withdrawn and laid up, the Waihi can but very rarely load up to her full carrying capacity. Give the octopus its due, and surely the Union Company are open to put us on as favourable terms as any other port. A worn but cry of monopoly abuse is certainly the wrong road to a remedy.— l am, etc.,