TIMARU HARBOUR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13679, 22 August 1908, Page 2

TIMARU HARBOUR.

ADVANTAGE TO MANUFACTURERS. TRANSFERRED FROM CHRISTCHURCH. Yesterday's jssue of the "Press" contained the following letter over an anonymous signature: We have just, received notification Trom a Christ church manufacturer that he has disposed of his business to a Timaru firm, who, owing to the cheaper facilities for manufacture and export, afforded by the fact of Timaru being a port, has decided to remove the factory to that town. This is an index of what js likely to happen in the-future unless something is done to remove the disabilities the Christ-cbnrch manufacturers and merchants labour under through being penalised by the railway charges. The Christchnreh merchant- js mulcted in thisway:—The railway base their charges on the ship's weights and measurements on all merchandise ex ship carried between Christchurch and Lyttelt.on, instead of on the dead' weight, as on the other railway lines; this' places the Christchurch manufacturer and merchant at a - great disadvantage as compared with its Timaru competitor. We will take the case of a Christchurch firm selling merchandise in Ashburton; he has to pay railway by measurement from Lyt-telton to Christchurch, : and on dead weight from Christchurch to Ashburton. His competitor, the Timaru, merchant, simply pays railage on the dead weight from Timaru to Ashburton. Hence all the advantage lies with Timaru, as it is well l known that in, almost every instance freight on packed merchandise taken by measurement is much greater than by dead weight. It'no doubt suits the Railway Department, and saves them a lot of trouble to make up their charges on the ship's weights and measitrements, bub afc the same time they are fleecing the public of Christ-church,.-. If the Railway Department finds the taik of weighing' the goods too - great - for them to -undertake, then they shonld in common justice to Christchurch reduce, the railway rates on the measurement- goods to bring it into line with the dead weight charged elsewhere. It behoves the public of Christclrurcli to bestir themselves and' compel the Tailway authorities to remedy the grievance, otherwise we shall see the trade of Christchurch gradually drift to Timaru.