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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6967, 17 March 1884, Page 4

A meeting, at which a large number of influential gentlemen were present, has been held in Canterbury to protest against the new railway tariff, which considerably increases the rates charged upon the carriage of grain. These rates had, nnder pressure from Canterbury, been greatly reduced. The result has been to cause an immense loss of railway revenue, the amount being estimated at somwhere about £90,000. It would, no doubt, be most satisfactory to be able So continue thest rates, or indeed to carry grain to port for next to nothing, but the country simply cannot afford ttie loss occasioned by these low charges. It muse also be taken iutc. account that a loss resulting from the cheap carriage of grain in Canter- burv has te be made up from the revenue of the country, and thus an injury is caused to all other interest*. We are quite prepared to see a fierce storm arise iu Canterbury, and so no doubt are Ministers. They must have counted the co3t of their action, and made up their minds to abide the resalt. We are quite sure that Mr. Mitchelaon has, and that if the Ministry retreats from the position which has beeli taken up they will have to sacrifice him, whatever he may be worth. But indeed the matter is one which scarcely admits ot accommodation. The Ministers must stick to their carefully-considered resolution to raise these rates of carriage. It will undoubtedly weaken them in Canterbury, and as they have no surplus strength to spare, they are in rather an awkward position. There are two subjects upon which in this connection a good deal might be 6aid. The first is, tha; -his matter sho*s the danger of the State owning and working the railways. An important interest puts on pressure, and being compact and outspoken, while the rest of the country says nothing, one locality and one interest are greatly favoured. But another kind of pressure, that financial difficulty, soon exercises its force. A huge loss occurs, which is yearly increasing, and this the country cannot stand. It would inevitably end in utter bankruptcy. Then the rates are put up again, greatly to the indignation of those affected, and to the danger cf the Ministry. The occurrence shows, also, that Ministers ought to be exceedinxly careful in dealing with the railway tariff, for it is difficult to repair an error. Carrying any article for less than cost price, to favour any particular industry, is a dangerous experiment.