NEW RAILWAY TARIFF

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12198, 24 July 1925, Page 6

NEW RAILWAY TARIFF

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VIEWS COAL AND TIMBER FREIGHT'S. At the meeting of the "Wellington Chamber .of Commerce yesterday the special committee appointed to consider the new railway tariff as affecting general good? presented, its rpport, of which the follcwinsr is a ' In reference to the simplification of rates it would be of..advantage if some simpler classification "xmld be adopts], although this would, ipean increasing some rates and lowering others, which would create difficulties. . .. As a general principle one of goods should be carried at one rating, though other factors may have t to be considered. The following? special items were brought under notice:— v Ah an example, linseed oil (now rate 11). use-1 in the manufacture of paint, might rerconablv be the same rate As white and red lead (rate D). Paint find oils, not otherwise specified, are carried at rote B. and varnish at rate A. f * Wheelwright's and carriage* builders' sundries and woolpaoks wente similarly reported upon. Cocoa and -confectionery are given reduced rates af*'er 140 miles, which appeared to be an Anomaly since thev were unable to ascertain, the reason for this concession. • In -6ome cases household necessities tejg candles) are the same as articles in the natmty of luxuries fe.ff. billiard tables, winds and spirits, chocolates) when they might well be considered for some lowev rated classification. The Railway - Department had / endeavoured in the new tariff to remove anomalies in the ratings as between brown. - bituminous and imported coals, and while they are not in a position to eav whether the rates decided upon were payable ones the object had been to out them on a more equitable basis, and as such the department's action, .nerited support. The tariff contained differing Tates in certain instances for imported and locally-growun products, and this meant that the man in the country was penalised as ayainit the dweller in seaport towns, ana it did not appear reasonable that the railways should be used as an additional protection to local industry when the Custom* tariff was available for that purpose. Other lines not produced in New Zealand were penalised by rating in this wajr, such as hardwoods imuch used for bridges, poles, etc., by country local bodies), and citsus and tropical fruits. It was believed to be the intention of the Railway Board to review the tariff every two years, but representations mad'? by chambers of commerce or others would receive consideration, and onv anomalies would be rectified at *h<nt notice. The railways endeavoured to obtain certain revenue, and any concessions made must affect the revenue in the eggtegate. Accordingly revision in the case of one item bad to be considered in relation to other items. Where any reduction was made the amount may not be so appreciable as to be passed on. One must reasonably be prepared for an increase bn eome other item if the railways were to achieve that total of revenue, which would enable them to meet expenditure without calling upon the general taxpayer. Where linevS had been laid in advance of settlement for developmental purposes the position would he different, for then a national subsidy would be justified. Mr A. Leigh Hunt said that speaking ue an old railway officer he thought some of the suggestions would result in a saving of time. They were glad to hear that the tariff would be reviewed every two years Mr* Fletcher said he understood that in regard to the timber, the department intended to apply the new rates for one year Mr J. T. Martin said if the new coal tariff was charged some merchants would find it difficult to carry on. He thought the reference to coal freights should bo withdrawn. Mr Hunt said he could not see any reason for giving preference to carriage of an inferior .kind of coal. The lignite Ihad been conveyed from Auckland and competed in Wellington with the bituminous coal from the West Coast, and wa* waterborne Mr Martin proposed that the clause be deleted. Mr A. McKenzie said they did not claim to ho coal experts, but the committee had given a deal of consideration to the matter, and the. report ehould go through. Mr D. Rodie, of the Commercial Department, New Zealand Railways, said the coal and timber bodies were each looking after their own industries. To refer the matter to a committee again would only delay matters. Tha report as a whole was adopted.