RAILWAY CHARGES: PREFERENCE SHOWN TO CANTERBURY AND OTAGO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12409, 23 October 1903, Page 7

RAILWAY CHARGES: PREFERENCE SHOWN TO CANTERBURY AND OTAGO.

• v;- • TO 'HIE EDITOR. Sir, —During the recent discussions in Parliament on the administration of our railways the Minister aga denied that any preference in the matter of rates and charges is given to Canterbury and Otago (see Han-' sard, September 18, page 626). Sir Joseph was then quoting from a special report prepared for him by lus general manager (Mr. T. ftonaync). In Juno, 1901, his then sub-manager (Mr. Charles Hudson) also reported to him to the same effect (see Parliamentary paper D-7, page 15). Doth these gentlemen in their reports to their iVumster tell him that the reason the average charge for carrying and delivering each ton of goods on the Hurunui-Bluft section was 3s 8d less than on the Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay section, and Is 84d less than on the Auckland section was that on the two latter sections there was a less proportion of grain carried than on the Huru-mii-Bluff section. That is to say, that the Hururmi-Bluff section carried the largest proportion of low-class freight. The following table proves that as regards Auckland and the two Southern provinces exactly the reverse is the case.

These are the indisputable /acts, ami yet the manager and sub-manager in their official reports have the audacity to say that the Huninui-Bluff section carries the largest proportion of low-class traffic. . ' To show what this means to our Auckland producers audi merchants, lot me direct attention to the following facts and figures: Glasses A, B, 0, -and I) at'e included in the term "merchandise" in the annual railways reports. The other nine classes are all at much lower rates. For a2O mile distance, which will give a fair idea of the relative charges for the various classes, they work out thus: For the four first classes the charges are respectively 13s 4d, 12s, 10s 7tl, and 9s 2d per ton. , Of the other nine classes seven can be reckoned by the ton, and the. charges are os Bd, 2s 3d, 7s &d, 4s 10(1, 3s Bd, and 2s 9d per ton. The item charged at 7 6d per

ton is wool, which in Canterbury and Otago forms 4.71 per cent, of their whole goods traffic. In Auckland it forms only 0.65 per ce "k , ' , ,i i. i Thus it will be. seen that of the whole goods traffic done on the Hurunui-Bluft section the five highest classes formed 26.31 per rent, of the wliok, and the eight lower classes 73.69 per cent.; -while on the Auckland section the five highest classes formed only 17.75 per cent, of the whole, and the lowest classes 82.2.5 per cent., and yet notwithstanding the Auckland section pays the higher rate of interest on its capital cost .1; is also charged Is Sid per ton more than is charged in Canterbury and Otngo. These are the indisputable facts as revealed by the public records, and yet Sir Joseph Ward and his chief officials, in spite of their own figures, tell Parliament and the country ' the reason of the less charge on the HurunuiBluff section is because that line carries a larger proportion o': low-price freight. I say it is due' to scandalous preference. The treatment of Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay is probably worse than Auckland, and of Nelson and Marlborough worse still. I can see no adequate reason for the average charge per ton being 3s 8d more on the Wellington, Taranaki, and Hawke's Bay section than it is on the Hurunui-Bluff. In future letters I hope to still further elucidate this matter. —I am, Samuel Vaii/b. Auckland, October 16, 1903. .

Traffic on Table 1902-3. of theaction p! " " Ruilv.-aj. traffic- : IluilVi 33 » trnfRo.. whole. of the 17.10 per whole. the of cent, 17.10 Auckland r ancl Wellington, Jf and , of per whole. cent, 21.60 per Hurunui-Blufx ... ••• ••• 21.60 per cent, of the whole. 78.30 per. cent, of the whole.