South Canterbury Times. MONDAY, JUNE 3, 1889.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5023, 3 June 1889, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. MONDAY, JUNE 3, 1889.

A new scale of railway faros and charges is to be brought into force directly. We hcpe the Commissioners have made some inquiries in the various parts of the colony, before making up their new schedule, as to the possibility of fostering existing and languishing trades by concessions in charges. For instance, the Timaru dolerite is for certain kinds of work as good a building stone as can been found in New Zealand, and we are informed that if the rates for its carriage were more moderate there would be a steady demand for it in Christchurch and Ashburton. Small quantities have been sent to those centres and have given satisfaction, but the present rates (9s 5d per ton to Christchurch) are practically prohibitive. This is an instance of a kind of traffic that could be increased, like passenger traffic, by low rates. Reductions in the rates for wool or wheat could make very little difference in the production of those articles, while in such a case as the one referred to, low rates would increase, not only the traffic but the production. The dolerite is one of the “ resources ” of this district, and in the future its carriage to various points will be no inconsiderable element in the railway traffic. It is fair to ask whether it could not be made a larger element at once. The charge for carriage to Christchurch we are told is 9s 5d per ton. Now when the railway department first undertook the protection of the clay cliffs of Caroline Bay, they brought rubble from Lyttelton, and in reply to protests made here against that proceeding, it was stated that they could deliver Lyttelton stone here at i 7s 6d a yard. Nothing was said about J the price paid for it at Lyttelton, but J

we have reason to believe that a good proportion of the 7s 6d was absorbed in the purchase of the rubble. Supposing however, that 7s 6d was the cost of carriage of a yard of stone —that is, about a ton and a half —it should surely pay the Department to carry stone for other people for much less than 9s 5d a ton. 30s a truck of five tons, ought to satisfy them, and at that rate it is probable a good many 30s would be added to their receipts every year, in place of nothing’ at all. This argument will no doubt apply to several other products in different parts of the colony, and however objectionable differential rating may be as a rule, there are bound to be exceptions to the rule, and these exceptions should be considered. Where the railways can be used as means of developing latent resources, the general policy, if not the railway policy strictly, must.suggest the propriety of making such use of them.