DAIRY PRODUCE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11583, 28 July 1923, Page 5

DAIRY PRODUCE

QUESTION OF RAILWAY FREIGHTS SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION WANTED. A large and representative deputation of -dairy producers and members of Parliament waited upon the Minister for Railways (the Hon. J. G. Coates) : yesterday morning to urge tho necessity for a substantial reduction in the railway freights on butter, cheese, etc. The present high rates, it was pointed out, wore fixed when tho prices of produce were high, but that they had now receded. As an evidence of tho heavy tax on the industry in this respect, Mr It. Masters (Stratford) stated that 3583 tons of butter and 913 ions of cheese went through the stations between Stratford and Ngaerc, a distance of only six miles, this being only 14 per cent, of the Taranaki output, yet It meant £2377 extra freight paid by tho producers, owing to the maintenance of high rates when prices of tho produce had receded. Mr Hawken asked tho Minister to consider a reduction in the freight on rennet and casein, while Mr Forsyth suggested that if these reductions could not bo made generally a concession might he given on locally-made rennet. The Minister replied that it would ho impossible to make anything more than a piecemeal reduction if the matter vva9 considered at present. The whole of the tariff had to be overhauled, ami tliis was being done, while at the’eanm time overhead charges on various classes of traffic were being taken into account. He believed that those who were interested should have an opportunity of going through the ti.rif] ho fore it- was fixed, and that they j.hniil-1 at the same time he given the of the department’s overhead expenses.