OUT AFTER BUSINESS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16604, 6 December 1924, Page 11

OUT AFTER BUSINESS.

SUCCESS OK RAILWAY FLAN

WOOL CLIPS SECURED

(Special to tLc Herald.) WELLINGTON, I his day. The Railway Department':) policy of going (ml, after business and definitely cultivating tin; goodwill of prospective customers is already producing material results. The commercial branch of the Department jute/ests itself in different classes of Iraflic, but particular interest attaches lu its efforts to lake away from motor lorry competitors the big business which it had secured last season in conveying the Dominion's wool clip to the seaboard. Whan the Hon. J. G. C'oales, Minister of Railways, was asked how the Department's enterprise in this direction is progressing, he expressed cheerful satisfaction, and proceeded l to give fads backing up his attitude. "Kepresentativci) of the Department have taken- many opportunities to put the railway position before the farmers, explain the difficulties, hear complaints, and, if possible, a'eimove' them by action on the spot, and I would like to record my appreciation of the manner in which the farming community has rallied to the support of the railways," naid Air. Coatee. "Farmers are business men, and as such it has not heew difficult to convince them of the economic loss which the country would suffer in encouraging the profitseeking motor lorry to compete with the State railways, which aim to provide transit for the community at the cost price. In addition to interviewing wool j>rowel's, our 'representatives arranged with dependable carriers to cart wool to Iho rail, and it has been found mecessary in some casus to quote a special rate to obtain business. Farmers were advised to take the class H rate plus 25 per cent., instead of class II plus 40 per cent. The prospects for this traffic are good, as thoi Department has iveceived premises of business for rail from the majority of settlers who were interviewed, and'who had previously been considering road cartage. The deciding point in our favor has bean' a personal canvass, plus reduced rates, except in the case of short-dis-tance traffic. Last year in Invereargill district about 3000 hales or 13 per cent, of the clip were carted by road. The Department is actively exerting itself to get. all the wool business for the railway this year on the I'icton section. About. 500 balers went by road last year; but the railway will probably get the whole clip this season. liti flnntervillo. Taihape, land Ohakune districts Inst year 2650 hales were takfvn to store 1 in Wanganui by motor lorries, but the railway has secured all but 510 bales of this total for the current season. A canvass of wool growers is proceeding in Wellington, Canterbury, Dunedhi. and Auckland districts. Although final details are not yet to hand. progress reports are distinctly encouraging. "We want the public to. understand." coneludedl the Minister, "thai, our efforts to get all the business are not being re» strht-ed to wop], hut I have, given a few facts regarding (his commodity to 'show that the Department's vigorous policy is producing prompt and* satisfactory re-1 suits." ' 1

REDUCED WOOL FREIGHTS. The Gazette shows that the former rate off railway freight of class H, plus 40 per cent., has boon reduced to class IT rate, plus 25 per cent., as from the 7th November last.

Tlio Olutha, Riven- Board is (he first local body in Otago to take some, practical steps towards helping the Railway Department, against, the competition of the motor lorries (states the "Otogo. Dailv 'Times). At its last, meeting tho board resolve'd that it would carry agricultural lime on the steamer to all up-rivw points at a reduced rale, provided! the settlers receiving the lime would agree to send their produce to market by liver steamer and. railway. It was agreed that if the farmer was not prepared to accept those conditions the. old tariff would ho charged. Reference was also made to the anomaly of farmers getting time carried frcn on thci railways and .sending their wool and other produce by motor-lorry. The differential tariff mow proposed would mean a considerable gain to Ihe farmer who limed his paddocks on anything like an extensive scale. The board also resolved to carry isheeip and lambs to Mai clufha at a reasonable rate in. future, and it, was claimed (hat sending them by water would give an advantage (o the farmer in that I he, stock would not get knocked about, or reduce in weight as much as when taken by road. The boa I is capable; of carrying 400 to 500 Jambs in one* shipment, but hitherto the board would only permit, a few show sheop to bo carried in iho steamer.