Kaikohe Prefers Rail Goods Service

Northern Advocate, 10 May 1939, Page 3

Kaikohe Prefers Rail Goods Service

-MR C. R. CAMERON

Inland towns in the Middle and Far North are given a better service by the railways than by shipping transport. This opinion was expressed by Mr C. R. Cameron, on behalf of the North Auckland Farmers’ Co-oper-ative, Ltd., at Kaikohe, in view of the action which is being taken by Northern harbour boards to combat railway goods service competition. “The railway service and truck rate system is much more satisfactory, both from a freight charge saving point of view and as far as quickness of delivery is concerned,” Mr Cameron said. Kerikeri Nearest Port

Kerikeri,-:20 miles distant, was Kaikohe’s nearest shipping port, and, with only a weekly boat service, shipping transport necessitated considerable delay in the delivery of goods. In addition to the boat freight rates, the recipient had also to pay road transport charges from Kerikeri to Kaikohe, representing, at 1/ a mile, from £2 to £3 per load above the shipping charges. In addition, railway charges were based on weight, and shipping rates on measurement, and this, in most cases,, also represented a saving in costs by rail consignment. “Kaikohe is virtually at a railhead, and the delivery of heavy goods and fertiliser Can be made from the rail truck .to the consignee direct, either by own carriers or by cream lorries, thus saving double handling and cartage charges to the store.”