RAILWAY FREIGHTS

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1781, 10 July 1926, Page 5

RAILWAY FREIGHTS

AIVD CARRIERS' CHARGES.

DEPARTMENT'S OFFICER VISITS ' TE AWAMUTU.

By Thursday morning's mail Mr H. Andrew, secretary of the Master Carriers' Association, received ad,vice that Mr H. Wal'sh, business agent for the New Zealand Railways, would be in Te Awamujtu at 10.30 a.m. and wished to meet the Association's officers in order to go into the handling of goods to and from the railway. It will be remembered that the Prime Minister (Mr Coates) stated that he was out for morte business and less Government in the future policy of the New Zealand Railways. As the outcome of this Mr Welsh is arranging a through freight from consignor to consignee, includiing all railage, cartage and handling costs. Mr Welsh was met at the station by the chairman (Mr Alf. Rowan), the secretary and the local stationmaster (Mr R. Laurie). Owing to the shortness of the notice it was not possible .to get a mow representative meeting of the members of the Association, so it was arranged that Mr Welsh should attend a general meeting of the Association on Friday, when the business will be gone into fully. In conversation Mr Welsh made it quite clear to the Carriers' Association if they cannot give a satisfactory price for receiving and delivering goods, the Railway Department Will make arrangements to do the work themselves. He stated that in many districts and towns ithey had made arrangements that were working satisfactorily. He referred to the handling of wool from the farmer to the auctioneer a s being one of the lines receiving most careful consideration, also the handling of fertiliser and merchandise. Mr Welsh asked what rates were being charged in Te Awamutu and district at present, and when these were supplied and examined he remarked that while some iwere reasonable others were on the high side as compared with elsewhere. He stated that he based his running cost upon the official returns of the Post and Telegraph Department, who, he maintained, had to deal with all classes and conditions of roads, running to a time-table. While the Railway will not stand for unreasonably high rates, at the same time they want the schedule to show a satisfactory margin of profit. What the Railway is out for is quick handling cost.. , _ ' After the interview Mr A. Rowan thanked Mr Welsh and Mr Laurie for -placing their views before the Association and assured them that he would do his bent to get the Association to fall into line with the requirements and would arrange for a representative meeting to go into details on the 16th inst. Mr Laurie assured Mr Rowan that he would give the Association every assistance and in his best endeavour to make the new arrangement a success to all concerned.