A RAILWAY TARIFF WAR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2104, 21 June 1894, Page 13

A RAILWAY TARIFF WAR.

Press Association— By Telegraph— Copyright. Melbourne, Jane 15,

Tbe Railway Gommisaionera have received a letter from the New South "Wales Commissioners in which the latter state that it is their desire to secure a readjustment of rates on strictly commercial principles without political , interference. The Victorian Commissioners have replied expressing wiilingness to abolish the preferential rates and charge mileage if New South Wales does the same. It is unlikely that the latter colony will agree to this, as it would be all in favour of Victoria, owing to the proximity of the Riverina district to Melbourne.

June 16.

The Minister of Railways thinks that New South Wales has always been the aggressor in differential railway rates, white Victoria has simply been actiDg on tbe defensive.

Sydney, June 15.

A return prepared by the Railway Commissioners shows that the Victorian Railway Oommipsioners have reduced rates ranging from 20 to as much as 60 per cent, in order to capture the carriage of the New South Wales border wool clip. It ia estimated that 740,000 bales of wool grown in this colony are carried to the Victorian seaboard annually.

June 17.

An envoy of the Railway Commissioners, who was despatched to Melbourne to. consult the commissioners there with regard to railway freights, &c, has returned with a reply that Victoria declined to alter the tariff this season. The local commissioners therefore determined to take effective measures to protect the revenue.