FREIGHT RATE ON RENNET

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1930, Page 9

FREIGHT RATE ON RENNET

ELTHAM COMPANY’S PLIGHT.

EFFECT OF AMENDED TARIFF.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Eltham, Last Night.

The recent increase in tariff on certain classes of railway freight comes as a bombshell to the Zealand Renrjet Company. Three years ago the compahy made an arrangement with” the department for the carriage of rennet ,at a certain figure, .but on December 15, the day after the new tariff came into force, the company learned that the freight had been materially increased. The freight from Eltham ■to Hamilton,’ 325 miles, .was, 655. Bd, now it is 95s 8d per ton. As .a large! proportion v of the output is sold freight forward and contracts are made before the commencement of the season the company is unable to pass on the charge and will have to bear the loss. , . / • -!

The' company’s manager stated to-day that it was a severe blow to the indus< try. The only option was to arrange that the bulk of the output be consigned by road transport. He pointed out that it cost more to rail a keg of rennet than a keg of beer. '. , \ ; The Railway Department-’ states that the freight on rennet is still below the rate on general goods, pointing out that the_ freight from Eltham to New Plymouth has 'been increased from 20s 6d. per ton to 30s Id, whereas the ordinary rate on goods over the same distance is 36s 5d,. ' \ \ , .■