TRANSPORT RIVALRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 12

TRANSPORT RIVALRY.

HIGHER HATES ON METAL.

ACTION BY DEPARTMENT.

"VICTIMISING A COUNTY."

INDIGNATION OF COUNCIL.

[by telegraph.—own correspondent. WHAKATANE. Friday.

"It is a most ridiculous action for tho department to take, to victimise the whole of the county because the Rnngitaiki Dairy Company shipped its produce through the port," stated Mr. W. A. MeCracken at yesterday's meeting of th 6 County Council, when tho following letter from the District Public Works engineer was read:—

"Now that most of the. produce of tho Rangitaiki Plains is boing shipped from Whakatane tho roads in that district will come under the hoad of competitive roads instead of as formerly, feeder roads to tho railway, and this will mean that full 'Q' rates will have to be paid by your council to the Railway Department on metal haulage from Pekatahi for those roads."

Mr. MeCracken said it was ridiculous that the whole district should be penalised for-the action of ono company. Another view that had to be considered was that tho harbour was carrying a substantial liability, and the harbour had to be supported. Ho considered the Minister of Public Works should be notified of tho action taken by the officials, and the council should strenuously oppose tho suggested alteration in the freight rates.

" A Narrow-minded View."

Mr. J. Cliff McCulloch said they should point out to the Minister the need for supporting the harbour to make the burden of harbour rates lighter for the ratepayers. He considered the Railway Department had shown a narrow, smallminded view in dealing with the busi> ness. The dairy company was working in tho best interests of thb suppliers, and was perfectly justified in taking tho action it did. Mr. A. Peebles considered the matter would solve itself when the Maungaroa* Taneatua Road was finished. It would then probably bo found that it would be cheaper to get the metal from Pekatalii by road. The eugincer, in reply to a question, said ho thought it would bo .cheaper ,to cart the metal by road. The road would be completed by Christmas.

Mr. Peobles: In view of that it is no use taking further action.

Mr. F. J. Burt: We had bettor push on with the road from Pekatahi to Awakeri and .let the matter drop. It is a very foolish, policy for the department to adopt. Mr. W. Addison said the departmental officers came along and used a club. It was only a matter of timo when tho club would rebound. If the council adopted tho same tactics it would find it would pay it to handle its own metal supplies. If tho people adopted the same attitude they would send all their goods by water. Other parts of tho district were sending their produce by rail, and he could uot seo why. the County' Council should bo victimised.

All Ratepayers' Penalised.

Mr. P. A. Baird questioned whether it would directly or indirectly pay to take the metal over the roads, as it would cause heavy wear on tho roads. The department had no quarrel with all the district, only with ono section of it. He failed to see why Euch action was taken in this district and not in other places where the produce was being transported by road. Mr. J. L. Burnett Baid the department's action was placing-a burden on tho ratepayers of the whole district. There was no reason why all should suffer because the Rangitaiki Company sent its butter away by water. Mr. McCracken'B motion, that a copy of tho letter received from tho Public Works engineer and a covering letter of protest be forwarded to the Minister of Railways and copies to the members of Parliament for tho district, was carried.