RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18501, 24 February 1930, Page 16

RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

NEW POLICY CRITICISED. By Telegraoh—Prase Association. HAMILTON, February 22. Perturbation is felt by traders doing business m a variety of lines requiring road or rail carriage, over Mr H. H. Sterling s declared change of policy regarding railway freights. Mr Walter Seavill, chairman of the b armers Auctioneering Company, which has large ramifications throughout South Auckland, says:—“What Mr Sterling advocates is not equitable, notwithstanding his assertions to the contrary, in that the policy he is adopting is frankly one of robbing , eter to pay Paul. Neither is it good business, if the Government engages in commercial pursuits it should do so on a competitive basis, and not take advantage of its unique position to ride roughshod over private enterprise. If the railways are rendering good national sendee by carrying manure, etc., at below cost, and I think they are, the department concerned should be recompensed by the Departments of Land and Agriculture. I believe this is being done up to a certain amount, and this principle might be given further effect to. This would be' equitable and would be an example of the Government's ability to take a longsighted view of the matter. To try to make up the leeway lost on the transport of one class of goods by taking advantage of their position bv extracting it from the pockets of those who are affected by the rates ruling on other classes is obviously unfair on the part of the department. Freights have to be reflected in the retail price charged, and what hope would certain companies have of successfully conducting that part of • | their business coming under the classification A. B. or C. with firms dealing in these goods only and who, carrying them by lorries at a cheaper rate than the railways will do the work, can consequently snap their fingers at the Railway Department, seeing that its i department has no way of successfully retaliating by penalising them on goods classified under D or E?”