RAILWAY RATES REDUCED

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1931, Page 11

RAILWAY RATES REDUCED

MEW FREIGHT CHARGE SCALE > I FROM BREAKWATER TO HAWERA. REDUCTIONS OF OVER 50 PER CENT Reductions in railway freight charges from New Plymouth and the port, amounting in many eases to over 50 per cent., with the introduction of a flat rate on goods which were previously charged for on a graduated scale, commenced yesterday and are now in operation as far as Hawera, Opunake and Douglas. From Hawera the former rate is still in force, but the effect of the new rates is materially to reduce those on goods being transported farther. The new tariff takes the form of a flat rate on A, B, C and D class goods which, till now, have been charged for on a graduated scale with class A the highest. Although the freights on the higher rated goods have been so heavily reduced, the existing low rates on manure, produce, sugar, etc., will remain unaltered. The department also intends to speed up dispatch so«ihat small lots of goods may be delivered to consignees the same day as received. The new rates, with the previous tariff on A class goods in parentheses, are: To stations from Fitzroy to Waitara inclusive: From New Plymouth 5» per ton pro rata (Ils 2d); from breakwater IDs (14s 9d); Waiongona and Inglewood 6s (15s lOd); from breakwater Ils (19s 2d)Durham Road, Norfolk, Road, Tariki 10s (21s 6d); from breakwater 15s (24s 9d); Waipuku, Midhirst Ils (25s 2d); from breakwater 16s (28s fid); Stratford 15s (28s); from breakwater 20s (32s 3d); Skinner Road to Douglas (inclu ive) 17s (37s lOd); from breakwater 22s (41s 4d); Ngaere, 15s (31s 9d); from breakwater, 20s (355); Eltham 17s Cd (33s 7d); from breakwater 22s fid (31s lOd); Matapu to Opunake (inclusive) 19s Cd (535); from breakwater 24s Cd (54s 9d); To Roti, Normanby 17s 6d (40s 7d); from breakwater 22s fid (43s sd); Hawera 20s (42s 8d); from breakwater 25 (46s 3d). The old small lots rate has been replaced by a minimum charge of Is up to two quarters and Is Cd over two quarters on all grades to Midhirst, a minimum charge of Is 6d on the Douglas line, the Opunake line, and to Ngaere, Te Roti and Normanby. At Stratford, Hawera and Eltham, where the new rate now includes cost of delivery, the minimum charge will be Is Cd for lots up to two quarters and 2s for over two quarters. The rates <riven above include sorting, handling an J weighing charges, but the rates ex breakwater do not include the New. Plymouth Harbour Board’s charge for wharfage. The rates on goods for stations from Huiroa to Tahora, and Whareroa to Wanganui are also reduced to. some extent. Goods of classes A, B, C and D comprise all goods except those carried at existing cheaper rates and the . new rates are now the highest charged.