RAILWAY CONCESSIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 9

RAILWAY CONCESSIONS.

VARIETY OF REQUESTS. CFbom Otjb. Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, October 10. In a report presented in the House this afternoon the Agricultural Committee recommended to the consideration of the Government a Waimate petition asking for free carriage by rail of returned empty strawberry crates and raspberry buckets. Sir W. Steward and other members spoke in support of the petition. Mr Massey said the concession should be granted for the strawberry growers throughout the Dominion and not those of Waimate only. He also asked when the Minister would table the promised schedule of local rates on the railways. Mr E. H. Clark suggested that the fish trade should receive the same concession as the fruit trade. Mr Ell urged that the railway rates should be such as to cheapen the cost of food and othsr necessaries. Mr Anderson said the freight rates on fruit were already as low as they should be in view of the desirableness of making the railways pay. If the returned empties were carried free for 100 miles, and at the present rate afterwards, that ought to be enough'. It would be very nice to get everything free, but somebody must pay. Mr Russell referred to the concessions on the carriage of wood for fruit cases under 100 miles. This penalised the Canterbury growers relatively and others because they had to get the timber from Southland. Mr Craigie also supported the claims of the fruitgrowers. H« also asked that a van should be put on the second express to enable the Timaru fishermen to send their produce to Christchiirch. The discussion ended without any Ministerial statement being made.