The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1886. The Railway Tariff.
In the House of Representatives on August 3 Mr D. Reid, the member for Bruce, asked the Minister for Public Works if he would favorably consider the petition ofthe TokomairiroFarmers’ Club to have the railway charges on the carriage of grain and minerals reduced. Mr Reid proceeded to say that under the present tariff a ton ol grain could be carried five miles for 3s, From five miles to seventeen miles the charge went up id. a ton per mile ; from seventeen miles to forty miles, 2d. a ton per mile ; and for any distance beyond forty, it went up id. per ton per mile. The northern boundary of his district Tokomairiro was situated seventeen miles from Dunedin, and up to that distance grain was carried at an ascending rate of id. per ton per mile; but all through his district the charge went up to 2d. per ton per mile, and his constituents felt that they were onsiderably handicapped under the present tariff. In the course ol his reply Mr Richardson said he was not quite sure whether the gentlemen who had sent a petition on the subject were aware of the fact that the grain tariff had been reduced in March last. It had been found necessary to lower the rate for shorter distances owing to competition. It had been said that the rales in New Zealand for the carriage of grain and minerals were higher than they were in other colonies ; and, as that belief had caused some dissatisfaction in the colony, it might be as well that he should read a return of the comparative rates in New South Wales, South Australia, and New Zealand :
For purposes of comparison, allowance for 1 a ling and unloading was inc'uded in each case. New South Wales did not export, but the average distance carried there was 132 miles. South Australian grain rates were also tabulated, that being the only Australian Colony which exported largely. The grain in that colony was carried from forty to one hundred and fifty miles.
On the last day but one of the cession, Sir George Grey gave notice to move early in next session —“ That iu the opinion ol this House, an enquiry should be Instituted to ascertain (1) the number and names of those persons who pur chased lands In the fating district of the Walmea Plains Railway In Ignorance that they would become liable for the payment. of such rates , (3) to ascertain the number and names of those persons whose properties were not specially benefited by the construction of the Waimea -Plains Railway, in order that the House may consider whether such personi should bo wholly relieved from the payment of the said rates in future, it appearing* unjust to them to have their claims confounded
with such oases as that of the New Zealand Agricultural Company, whose extensive property was so largely benefited by the construction of the railway.”
Miles | N, 8. Wales a. au stralia New Zealand Ton Lots. Per Ton, Ton lots P. ton Five tonlots P. ton Two ton lots. P. ton 8. d. s. d. 6. d. s. d. 10 4 0 4 0 3 8 4 5 15 4 0 o 9 4 C 4 10 20 4 0 7 0 5 4 5 6 ' 30 O 5 9 0 7 0 7 2 50 7 4 14 G 10 4 9 8 100 11 0 27 0 15 7 13 10 150 15 6 38 11 19 9 18 0 200 18 10 50 2 23 11 22 2
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1321, 21 August 1886, Page 2
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611The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prævalebit. SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1886. The Railway Tariff. Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1321, 21 August 1886, Page 2
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