THE RAILWAYS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20106, 9 December 1930, Page 11

THE RAILWAYS.

TARIFF REVISION. INCREASES OPERATE FROM SUNDAY. [THE PBESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON. December 8. Further tariff increases for the carriage of certain classes of goods were announced by the Minister for Railways in a special Gazette issued this evening. Owing to the fact- that latest revisions have not all been made exactly in accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission, it is impossible to estimate the amount of the additional annual revenue likely to accrue, although it will be considerable. As a result of the increases and adjustments, practically the whole of the Commission's recommendations for tariff revision have been brought into effect. Coal and Metal. The chief items affected by these changes, which will come into eiiect from next tjuuday, are New Zealand brown or soft coal, and road metal for use by local bodies. An increase "i revenue totalling' £0*5,000 is expected j to result from increases in tho rates for the carriage of brown coal. It was originally proposed by tho Commission that the rate should be increased by 10 per cent, up to 100 miles, and then gradually increased up to 15 per cent, for distances up to 200 miles, and a flat increase of 15 per cent, beyond 200 miles. The opinion was expressed by the Commission that the old rate appeared to favour lone* distance traffic. It was decided by the Minister that before putting any increases into effect so far as charges for this class of freight were concerned. tho opinions of coal owners should be secured on the question or the incidence of the proposed increases. A conference was held recently, and although the total increase in revenue expected remains tho same as that estimated by the Commission, the increases have been rearranged. Under the new arrangement the rates will be increased by 11 per cent, up to 200 miles, and gradually increased by 11 per to 13 per cent, between 200 a.nd 250 miles, with a flat increase of 13 per cent, beyond 250. _ Another important alteration relates to the removal of the concession granted on the carriage of road metal for use by local bodies. The removal of this concession was estimated by the Commission to result in additional revenue to the Department of £29,000 per year. In referring to this class of traffic the Commission said that it could not see why the Department should be called upon to carry it at a very unremunerative rate, and it was recommended that should it be decided to grant some concession upon the rate proprscd, namely, that for bulk goods, such as gravel, chaff, and hay, the loss in revenue should not be borne by the Department. Other alterations in the tariff are regarded by the Department mainly as technical changes to give effect to minor proposals of the Commission. A revision has been made in the rates tor goods of the produce type, sucli as grain and potatoes. Tho rate on imported timber, except hardwood poles, has been reduced to tho same level as that for local timber. Certain minor alterations have been made in the rates for imported coals, goods manufactured from cement, and bulk goods, such as gravel, chaff, hay, and lime. At the present time the regulations make reference to imported goods and goods of New Zealand manufacture, different rates being charged for each. Under the new regulations the reference as to whether these goods are imported or loealiy made has been deleted. Fruit Cases. A change has been made in the regulation dealing with empty cases for the carriage of fruit and sliooks for the manufacture of fruit cases. This has been necessary owing to the alteration in the rates for local and imported timber. At present this regulation makes provision for the carriage of New Zealand timber only, but imported timber and New Zealand timber used in tho manufacture of fruit cases will now be charged the same rate. Similarly, in accordance with the Commission's report, the charges for haulage, handling, sorting, and transhipment of imported and local timber have been made the same, imported timber charges being higher under the present tariff. Other Increases.

A further amendment makes provision for an increase by 11 per cent, on brown or soft coal, from the coal-pro-ducing areas north of Auckland to-Opua, Onerahi, and Kaikohe. No definite recommendation upon this point was made by tho Commission which said that local rates with comparatively few exceptions, had to be governed by circumstances of competitoin. An increase of 10 per cent, has also been made on coal at present charged at local rates from the coal mines to Westport, for shipment. Similarly in the case of coke from Granity to Westport, the railage charges have been increased by 10 per [•( nt., as also have those on coal and coal dross consigned from Conn's Creek to Waimangaroa. At the present time there is a local rate of 7s per ton on coal ex-ship at Picton for Grovetown or Blenheim. This rate has been increased by 11 per cent. An alteration in the regulation covering tho South Island main lino and • tranches increases' local rates on coal t'or shipment from various coal mines m the Grey Valley district, and Reefton to Greymouth by 10 per cent. A similar increase has been made in the case of coke, clay, and bricks from Brunner to Greymouth, and also on coal from Dunollie to Runanga.