RAILWAY CHARGES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10595, 12 September 1896, Page 3

RAILWAY CHARGES.

I . TO THB EDITOK. Sir, —The way things are managed on the railways bus long puzzled most of people; the different charges and rates are a puzzle to the proverbial Philadelphia lawyer. In many places waggons have successfully competed with the railways, and at the present moment nearly all the merchandise for Milton, Waiiahuna, and Liwreace is being sent by road, and is being delivered at rates rather lower than the railways are charging. i The railways play into the hands ot town traders by issuing passenger tickets at remarkably low rates, and further help the town people by charging country buyers rates for the carriago of goods which are sufficiently high to • enable the waggons to successfully compete with thesn. , , It coats 2s 9d to take a 581b parcel to Lawrence, but passenger excursion tickets are ! issued at 53, and many take with them fully the. above weight of merchandise a* luggage; they, therefore, travel.l2o miles for 2s 3d—not bad for the pasnenger, but bard on the country tradesman. . . Ths railways expect the country storekeepers to BUppott them, and wonder that- more goods are not being sent them ; but overlook the fact that, thrpugh the action of the department, trade ia being taken from themselves and the country stores—'.hay tun opposition to the country stores, and expect the storekeepers to kf-lp them to do it. If the railways pay too woll, why not c»rry lime, grain, and produce at low rates, and give the country people a show ? —I am, &c;, ■ September 10. - Justice.