HARDWOOD AND COAL.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 135, 9 August 1912, Page 2

HARDWOOD AND COAL.

Mr J. A. YOUNG is proving industrious in the interests of the country sections of his constituents directly, and also those of other rural electorates indirectly. The member for Waikato obtained a favourable reply, on the 2nd inst., from the Minister of Public Works regarding a reconnaisance survey of the country between Kawhia and the Main Trunk line, so as to determine the best route for a connecting link. This satisfied him. On the same day, however Mr Young was not pleased with the Ministerial reply respecting the rate charged on the railways for the carriage of hardwoods. The railway tariff, on such timber amounted, he contended, to an extra duty on it, and inflicted a special disability upon country settlers. Wheelwrights found it necessary to use the Australian hardwoods (no New Zealand timber suitable being obtainable in sufficient quantity) for the manufacture of wheels and shafts for drays and waggons. Bridge - building in New Zealand, too, becape more costly for the same reason. The Ministerial answer was the stereotyped production of the Department. The aim of the day was, or should be, the encouragement of the men on the land and those who supplied their requirements. To that end the c,ountry wheelwright should be assisted, not handicapped. The country tradesman ought not to be taxed for the benefit of the city tradesman. Why should men in the city seaports who desired to use the hard woods obtained have any advantage over the men in the back districts by the imposition of.a heavy railway tariff ? During i

recent years the urban population had increased, while that of the run'. I areas had either decreased or increased at a less proportionate rate as compared with the larger towns and the four city boroughs. Was it possible for the population to increase in the rural districts when the rail way rates were so disadvantageous to the tradesmen engaged in them. If they desired to give protection to their rural home industries in this connection, why not ptit the whole tax on the article as it came into the Dominion at the port of entry, and not impose the -tax through the railways ? The people who best supported the railways were those living in the country districts. This was seen in the fact they had to bring so much material from the seaports, and return the products of their industry and enterprise on the land for export. Mr Young similarly criticised the Ministerial reply regarding the conveyance of coal by rail. One of the principal and most useful industries in the country districts was that of the blacksmiths. He had received a letter from Mr G. Spinley, of Te Awamutu, a leading blacksmith of that district. Mr Spinley wrote pointing out the unfair treatment that blacksmiths suffered if they did not reside in a city, adding : ‘‘ln cur trade there are only two coals suitable for similar work, viz : Brunner nuts and Newcastle. Brunner nuts are rated above native brown on the railway, although Brnnner coal is very brown. Newcastle is rated as half a rate extra again on the top of Brunner. Now this is the unfair part. For several months it has been impossible to get any Brunner coal in Auckland, and we have thus no other course open than to use Newcastle, and while the man in the seaport town gets his coal duty free, we must pay a diitv in the shape of extra railway rate so as to encourage, as it is stated, the industries of the country.” Mr Young pointed out, ironically, that that was one of the illustrations of how settlement in the Dominion was being encouraged by the method of the Railway Department—which seemed to have got hold of this countryHe hoped —and he had great confidence in the new Minister for Railways —that when the Hon. Mr Herries got a good grasp of every detail of his department, he would see the gross injustice of the system complained of, and would use his best endeavours to put the men in the country on the same footing as the city dwelling tradesmen. , .