RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18089, 13 May 1922, Page 8

RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

TIMBER AND PRODUCE.

QUESTION OF STANDARD RATES. JBX TELEG&APH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] INVERCARGILL, Friday.

Replying to a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce to-day, Mr. R. W. McVilly, General Manager of Railways, dealt at some length with various aspects of the department's charges and methods. With reference to sorting charges, he said the charge was not nearly sufficient to •cover the cost to which the department was put. Referring to the penalty for incorrectly stated weights of consignments, he said the department had to protect itself. It was only when offences were frequently and deliberately committed that the double charge would be imposed. Timber weights had been frequently understated for many years, and an inspector had to be appointed. The department had had the matter of standard weights for bulky lines under consideration, and if a satisfactory system could be arrived at, this method of charging would probably be adopted. Cement and barbed wire were instanced by the deputation as lines made up in approximately constant weight*. x Mr. McVilly said he would be glad to meet a committee to discuss the rates on dairy produce, which, if unsatisfactory to the companies, were also to him. The regulations were framed many years ago, and the rates were fixed at extremely low figures, which did not cover the cost of loading and unloading. Referring to timber freights, he said there was a divergence between builders and sawmillers regarding charges on imported and local timbers. The policy of the department had been to encourage local industry. An effort had been made to reduce the charges on hardwoods to the same extent as local timber, but it had been resisted. He would be glad to discuss the matter with a committee. He intended to keep in touch with Chambers of Commerce.