RAILWAY RATES.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13677, 20 August 1908, Page 2

RAILWAY RATES.

COMPLAINTS ,'■ The Committee of the Oamaru Chamber of Commerce set- up to consider the ([iiestioh of haulage, ■ empty -trucks, and railway overtime; reports'atr last meeting as follows : ':••'

''Railage 10 Breakwater. Outside 12 miles to breakwater,- -extra; distance charged Id psr ton; (2) inside 12 'miles;; to breakwater, nothing;' (3) from town stores to brealnvater, : Ir jper ton/ Therefore, -what costs Id in' one instance' is, hauled free in the second instance; 'while-'-from town stores or railway yards' the same Service precisely is'charged at Is per ton. In cases 1 and 2 the; department; have to cut out trucks from the country j trains and make up a, special train to the wharf; while in' ease: o : thetrains '■ are" really made up for the. railway by the and it must lie all in .vthe : interests of the department .to have the waggons handy, and store loaded, grain will undoubtedly help to accomplish, this in the early release ; of trucks,. which can then b$ used -many' times' over in one day instead of as against the unavoidable delay which, often occurs through the trucks remaining in the 'country for loading. Our contention is that' grain railed into' store and subsequently reloaded ''for'.-ship- : ment should be placed on the same foot- ■ ing as grain railed straight through for shipment. . -..-.- -■- "_•"'■■ " Overtime.—Railway charge ship Is 6d ; per. hour per man at night arid pay Is 3d daytime, and 2s at night time. Therefore, while they pay Is 3d day time, the same.work at night costis them 6d. This; is not a fair division, and ships should only pay the difference between Is 3d and 2s, as nearly all the work at this port is done at night. It is also doubtful if the whole of the labour overtime received by the Railway Department js paid away to the employees, " Empty Railway Waggons to Count ryi —The Committee "urge that a system of consigning be agreed iipon;. y. -.-.'.-v. , ■ .. " Railway ;:' Committee ; urge that a system be adopted'commensurate with -the charge ; of Is per truck charged by department -for weights:"The report was .received, and it was decided to send it on to ,'thei other Chambers, - and also to ask the Conference, if' considered advisable;- to-take action in the matter.