RAILWAY WHARF CHARGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16850, 15 May 1918, Page 6

RAILWAY WHARF CHARGES.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. : [by TELEGRAPH.— association.} . ' ; ] WELLINGTON. Tuesday. A deputation representing the Harbour : l Board and allied interests waited upon the Acting-Prime Minister and the Minister for Railways to-day regarding certain railway charges which, it was considered, bear unjustly upon smaller ports. A sorting charge of about Is lOd per ton had ''■ been imposed ok goods landed at the porta where the Railway Department had control, and this charge was considered unduly high. Sir James Allen said that the matter concerned the Railway Department. He assured the deputation that Cabinet! would assist to remedy any real grievance. j The Hon. W. H. Herries, in reply, said that figures collected at Wanganui showed '£ the sorting cost to be 23d Per ton, while ■■'-.! the actual charge made was Is 6d, plus '£ two additions of 10 per cent. The first .:«; 10 per cent, was war-tax money needed for national purposes, and the second 10 .;? per cent. was to provide money for extra ,■ ■■* war pay to railway men, amounting to vji about £360,000 a year. The Minister sug- ,f| gested that some points raised should .1* y,j discussed with the General Manager ft:? ;.f$ Railways. In ,the course of further dis- " t 0 cussion Mr. Herries said that the Railway J 3s. Department had no wish to control . -. ) wharves at all. The duty had been forced upon it. and if the harbour boards could take full control they were welcome to <» ' so. " '■■'■■ v.-:::' /