RAILWAY DEPARTMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16732, 13 May 1922, Page 8

RAILWAY DEPARTMENT.

CHARGES AND METHODS. (Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, May 12. Replying to a deputation from the Chamber of Commerce to-day., Mr R. W. M’Villjj General Manager of Railways, dealt at some length with various aspects of the Department's charges and methods. With reference to the request for consideration of sorting charges he said the charge was not nearly sufficient to cover the cost to which the Department was put. Referring to the penalty for incorrectly stated weights of consignments, he said the Department had to protect itself. It was only when offences were frequent and deliberately committed that double charge would be imposed. Timber weights had been frequently understated for many years and an inspector had to he appointed. The Department had had the matter of standard weights for bulky linos under consideration and where a satisfactory basis could be arrived at this method of charging would probably be adopted- Cement and barbed wire were instanced by the deputation as lines made up in approximately constant weights. He would he glad to meet a committee to discuss rates on dairy produce, which if unsatisfactory to the companies were also so to him. The regulations had been framed many years ago and the rates were fixed at extremely low figures, which did not cover cost of loading and unloading. Referring to timber freights, he said there was a divergence between builders and sawmillers regarding charges on imported and locaj timbers. The policy of the Department hod been to encourage local industry. An effort had been made to reduce the charge on hardwoods to the. same as local timber, but it had been resisted. He would be glad to discuss the matter with a committee. Air M Y illv said that he intended to keep in touch with Chambers of Commerce.