STOCK RATES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22241, 16 October 1935, Page 17

STOCK RATES

CHARGES BY RAIL NO REDUCTION POSSIBLE The damago to roads between tho Waikato and Westfield by the passage of cattle was again discussed at a toeeting of the Manukau County Council yesterday, when a letter was received from Mr. G. H. Mackley, general manager of railways. Representations had previously been made by the Man6kau and Waitemata County Councils for a reduced freight rate for I°\ cattle, and the matter had been rej ferred by the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, to the Railways Board. The opinion of the Railways Board, is expressed in the letter, was that the existing rail rates were as low as possible, and any reduction would be attended by numerous difficulties. As far as tho damage to roads was concerned, while the board fully appreciated that droving was undesirable from the point' of view of the county councils and other local bodies, it was of the opinion that the matter was one for the bodies concerned to control. The letter stated that, having regard to the substantial concessions already extended in the form of a special reduction of 12J per cent in the standard rates for cattle, and tho reduction of 30 per cent in the freight rates on beef railed to ports for export, tho board was of the opinion that the existing rates were as low as circumstances permitted. In this connection, the charges in force in the Dominion for livestock traffic compared favourably with the rates charged on- the Australian State Railways. "If tliat is their opinion, it seems no wonder that they cannot make the railways pay," said Mr. J. Luke. The letter was received without fur- / ther discussion.