RECASTING OF THE TARIFF

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1930, Page 9

RECASTING OF THE TARIFF

.RISE IN PASSENGER FARES GOODS RATES HIGHER (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) ■ Wellington, Last Night. All round increases in passenger fares and freight on goods are recommended in . the report of the Railways Commission. It has investigated all avenues of increased revenue, and if its recommendations, are adopted there will have to be a complete overhaul of the present railway tariff. An increase in ordinary passenger fares of -Id, in the shilling or part of a shilling is recommended. This is °stimated to produce additional revenue amounting to £45,000 per annum. The commission also recommends that sleeping berth charges be increased from fl to £1 5s for special cars and, from 12s Gd to 15s for ordinary cars. 'This is estimated to give an increased revenue, of £7491. ■

On .the subject of concession tickets the commission says the rates charged are .low and a slight increase svould not cause'; any loss of traffic and would also materially increase the revenue. ' In regard to excursion fares at holiday period? the commission states that it does not recpmmeiid any /departure from the 'policy/of excursion, fares. It is of opinion that a small, increase of Id in tho shilling or part of a shilling should be made in the fares, charged. The addition • would give an ek'tra revenue of £26,700.

The commission further suggests there should be a limitation on the availability of trip bearer tickets. An increase of Id in the shilling or part ot a shilling on season tickets is recommended, and it is stated that the extra revenue would amount to £6300. The commission expresses the view that newspaper reporters’ tickets should be abolished.

The commission expresses the opinion that there should be an increase of 6s 8d on all school season tickets, to.return an added revenue of £BOOO. The opinion is also expressed that workers’ tickets should bear a greater proportion of the expense of running the railways, .and the commission presents a new scale of charges calculated to produce £22,060. Tlie suggested increases in the goods schedules are:—

Produce (grain, potatoes, etc.) 10 per cent, increase, with the exception of grain. Scrap (firewood, straw, etc.), 10 per cent, increase. Imported coal and goods manufactured from cement, 10 per cent, increase. Bulk goods (gravel, metal, chaff, hay and lime), 10 per cent, increase. New Zealand brown coal, 10 per cent, increase up to 100 miles and then gradually increased up to 15 per cent, for distances up to 200 miles, and a flat increase of 15 per- cent, beyond 200 miles. Lime for manuring farm lands, the same as firewood and straw. Road metal for the use of local bodies, the same as fpr gravel, etc. Fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts, 5d per ton for each five miles up to 500 miles. ■ . ■ . •'' Artificial manures,.the same as grain, potatoes, etc.