AUSTRALIAN TIMBERS.

Waipa Post, Volume XX, Issue 1241, 11 May 1922, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN TIMBERS.

RAILWAY FREIGHT CHARGES. A deputation from the New Zealand Counties Association waited on the General Manager of Railways (iMr R. W. McVilly), on Wednesday of last week to urge upon him the desirability of making the freight charges on Australian timber the same as those on New Zealand timber. It was pointed out that the Australian timber was absolutely essential for bridge work and for poles for hydro-electirc services, and that the conditions which existed when the rate and a-half tariff was imposed, did not now obtain. It was then urged that when the tariff alterations are being made special consideration should be given to those classes) of goods on which freights are too high. The deputation pointed out that motor lorries are able to under-cut the railway rates, to the detriment of the railway revenue, causing enormous loss to the local bodies whose roads) were being cut to pieces. Mr McVilly gave a sympathetic reply in regard £& freights on Australian timber, and explained the great difficulties the railways were working under owing to the very great increase in working and other costs. He promised that every consideration would be given to the representations of the deputation during the progress of the tariff adjustments now in hand.