THE RAILWAY TARIFF.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2728, 10 July 1925, Page 3

THE RAILWAY TARIFF.

VIEW OF CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The proposed new railway tariff was the subject of a special meeting of the Feilding Chamber of Commerce held yesterday morning, when the president (Mr. W. E. Carthcw) said that the new rates would affect Feilding as regards coal, firewood, timber and flour. The freight on coal from the Waikato would be increased by 5/7 a ton and in his opinion, many of the proposed increases would penalise the country towns.

Mr. H. Tolley suggested that the matter be discussed from the point of view of whether the railways should be conducted on a commercial basis or for the development of the country. He thought the country districts should have concessions in freights and moved that the Chamber favoured the present rates, as they were favourable to the development of the country. This was seconded by Mr. Fitzpatrick, who stated that while it was all very well to run the railways on a commercial basis, some of the lines had not been constructed according to that idea, but solely for the development of the country. Mr. R. Cobbe stated that the increased freights on dead stock would affect the local freezing works to the extent of £2,800 a season and in view of the fact that it was not proposed to increase the rates on live stock, this additional charge would bo a most serious matter for the local woi-ks. The big freezing works at the ports would not bo affected by the new rates, but the many co-operative concerns in the country districts would be heavily hit and it would tend to put them'out of action. Mr. Tolley considered this an important aspect of the situation and suggested that it bo brought to the notice of the member for the district. In fact, all country members should be notified.

Mr. P. Desmond, while agreeing that the railways should be made to pay their way, urged that increased rates would effect the value of wages and so the vicious circle would bo set up.

Mr. C. S. Jeffs thought that it was not right that the country business man should bo placed in an unfair position as compared with the city man.

On the motion of Mr. A. .T. Kollow, seconded by Mr. V. E. Smith, the following resolution was carried: “That whilst commending the Railway Department upon its endeavour to conduct the system upon a commercial basis, this Chamber is of the opinion that the rates should not be made inequitable to the country districts” A committee, comprising Messrs. Carthew, Kollow, Cobbe,- Tolley, Fitzpatrick and the local stationmaster, was set up to make a report on the new tariff and present it at a special meeting of the Chamber to be held on Monday, July 20.