South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1890.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6240, 12 June 1890, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 1890.

The Railway Commissioners have published a revised list of fares and rates, to be brought into force on July Ist. The first page of the list, and it is only one fourth of a page, contains 105 awkwardnesses that ought to have been revised away. At any rate all but two might have been removed without injury to any principle of charging. These are cases in which the use of “coppers” are indispensable in “ making change ” in the purchase of tickets. The passenger must either carry pennies to or from the station, and though we are not among those who despise the honest “ brown,it must be admitted that it is not a generally popular coin. Pew people, one would think, would complain at having a “ pocketful of money,” but some do, when the bulk and weight of it is in pence. There is frequently

trouble at country stations, and at central stations too, in making change, owing to these odd-penny charges. The curious and exasperating thing about the scale is that the odd-penny fare is more numerous than the silver-coin one. In the 168 different fares on the first page referred to, 105 require the use of one or two pennies, and this unnecessary strain on the bronze coinage, and on the railway traveller's pocket material and patience, is continued right through the scale up to 500 miles.

Thebe is one section of the railway charges which our Harbour Board ought to protest against. The ordinary merchandise rates from Lyttelton to Christchurch, say it is 100 miles, are 26s 6d, 33s 7d, 41s 6d and 49s 4d pet ton, ac cording to the nature of the merchandise. But if any of these goods are delivered ex ship at Lyttelton for Timaru in quantities over 10 tons they are railed at 15s per ton. Similarly, goods sent from Timaru to Christchurch for shipment, are carried at 15s per ton. Now this regulation is distinctly in favour of Lyttelton and against Timaru, as concerns the shipping trade, and consequently is a matter the Harbour Board should inquire into. We are not now saying that it is against the interests of the district; that is a matter for consideration ; but it is manifestly against the trade of the port.