RAILWAY FREIGHT FROM THE WAIKATO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7415, 25 August 1885, Page 6

RAILWAY FREIGHT FROM THE WAIKATO.

tt ainai v/« TO THE EDITOR, Sib, —I have received a letter from Mr. Hudson, the traffic manager, expressing a wish that oar merchants and farmers may understand that they are plaoed upon the same footing as the Canterbury people ; that the rates per ton per mile are the same at both places. The complaint, however, of the farmer is that potatoes can be brought from the South Island much cheaper than is charged from the Waikato, although the Waikato is close to our very doors, and Canterbury many hundreds of miles distant, But, sir, it is affirmed that if a man resides up the line and wants a truck of coals from the pit, he is charged more for bringing them part of the way than he would be for the whole way to Auckland and back again. It frequently happens, I am glad to say, that people in this country desire to send presents of game, &c., to their friends in Auckland. Here, again, the railway people step in and embitter this happy feeling by charging as carriage the value, or more, than the articles are worth in the market. We frequently hear the words " encourage local industry." Here is a sample of our railway people's methods of doing so : '• The Union Oil, Soap, and Candle Company have their works at Penrose, which is the same distance as Onebunga from Auckland. The "railway charge for imported and general merchandise to and from Auckland and Onehunga is about half the price charged to this useful looal manufacture. The Soap and Candle Company is thus robbed of many hundreds of pounds yearly by our railway managers, and when they try to obtain redress they are referred by the circumlocution office from one department to another, until at last they reach the Minister of Public Works, and then, surely their prospects are ripening. Alas J The Ministry is turned out of office, and so the plunder goes on. And now, sir, the papers report that the "Railway Reform Petition" has been referred to a committee of railway and public works men. Surely the force of absurdity could no further go. What possible good can come from suoh a reference It would be as reasonable to expect the song of the nightingale from the donkey.—l am, &c., James Adams. College-road. August 22.