The Timaru Herald.

Timaru Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 6060, 20 September 1894, Page 2

The Timaru Herald.

THUBBDAY, SBPTSMBEB 20, 1894. At the meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday a telegram from Mr Flatman was read, m which he promised to watch the Board's interests m regard to a petition to Parliament from the Freezing Companies at Ghristchuroh, the New Zealand Shipping Company, and the

Shaw Savill and Albion Company, for a | general reduction m the rates for railing j y frozen meat. The question involved is f an important one to all who are con- 5 cerned for the prosperity of the port of Timara. If the companies are allowed to o have their way, and a substantial reduc- t tion is made m tberailagerates for frozen rj meat the consequence will be that it will j j go to Lyttelton instead of being shipped at Timaru. Then, as Mr Teschemaker very pertinently asked, what will be the position of the Harbonr Board P The port is being improved for the express purpose of attracting the largest class of steamers, but they will certainly not come if the meat ib railed to Lyttelton. What the exact amount of loss to the Harbour Board's revenue would be we cannot at present say, but it would be very considerable, and there would be much indirect loss as well as the actual shrinkage of revenue. The Board are not m a position to stand such tampering with their finances, and should therefore bestir themselves to defeat this move on the part of the companies. It is very short-sighted policy to attack the prosperity of the harbours, and it is grossly unfair, because the legislature recognised the utility of the works and authorised their construction at an enormous outlay. It does not appear that the Board took any decided action. Mr Flatman's message <was received, and then after a brief discussion the matter was allowed to drop. We would Buggest that, the Board formulate their case, and make a strong representation to the Government. If something of that kind be not speedily done it will not surprise us if the petition of the companies is granted. In that event it will be too late to apply a remedy. The petition, which is signed on behalf of the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Dairy Produce Export Company, the Christ. ohureh Meat Company, Shaw, Savill and Albion Company, and the New Zealand Shipping Company, sets forth that the charges for the carriage of frozen meat by rail are unduly high aB compared with the rateß for other classes of produce, and that the .Railway Commissioners decline to entertain a request for reduction. It further states that the frozen meat trade m Canterbury is rapidly increasing, and that the railway vans and facilities now available and intended to be available next season for the conveyance of frozen meat are totally inadequate to the requirements of the trade. It adds : — "From correspondence which has recently passed between the Railway Commissioners and some of the petitioners, it is evident that the Commissioners either do not fully graßp the situation or cannot get the funds with which to provide the necessary vans." Embodied m the petition are copies of letters to the Railway Commissioners from the Secretary of the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, the managing director of the Ohristchurch Meat Company, and the general manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company, with replies from the Commissioners.