RAILWAY MUDDLING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18571, 1 December 1923, Page 8

RAILWAY MUDDLING.

Sir,—The average man- is 'iin'able to I understand the vagaries of the Railway iCj Department. , Here is an example 'how •: ' 1 not:'■; to do ; it." .'*■■ From k Auckland to 1 Ngapuhi the through freight on "manure . I ■ is £1 12s 5d per ton. ' < This, exorbitant 1 rate is due to the ':fact- that- there is a three section minimum charge, vi&, one \ rate to Huarau, another' from :Eitarau.vtoi;; Portland,, and a third ..Portland to \ Ngapuhi, making- a total as above. . If _;: there were no Public Works section the '. through freight would he , 29s lOd. • Why the regular rate is raised by over SO per cent, because o£ the braJk is more than one -■''. can " understand ■■■- when ope considers i that the whole line is controlled by the M Governments The .rate ■• by steamer to % Opua.iS' 21s 6d, wharfage Is, and railage from ; Opua : to Ngapuhi 6s Id, roaidne a . total 'of £10s 7d, a difference Jof|3sj7d ; w a ton in favour of the stoarcer rout?. Naturally ship] are sending by boat instead of rail. "*. The miter has done so, -, and _ will continue to send that way •in the interests of : his clients. The, Depar- Sj ment is_ deliberately ; throwing; away, business. If the Public Works requires &§1 share of the freight, why not ■■ give tint „■■■;.' 'department its proportion of the-whole . . for the * distance it controls. The former has enough *to ;-. contend against : without "5? wilfully adding to his burdens,? Ssch" utter lock of busimsss acumea'w/aid land 3 9 a privately managed business in the pr! bankruptcy i court. The fact "is: the'|| departmental mind is " unable 7 to grasp§ even ' the rudiments * of. business manage- i ment. : What is needed' is i*'"-' board of ?i| business men ito c advise the heads and give them some much heeded le*sc=; ~ business methods. " Merchant. / !