RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 734, 5 February 1910, Page 10

RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

'inequitabijE and/pnbusiness.'l iDj" Association.)-;' .' ■■'.':'■": '■':'•'.'. .';,-.Wanganui, February .4.. . The member's of the Chamber of Commerce last ■ evening ' spoko. -strongly, m condemnation of differential raies on .the railways,; andi-'ridiculcd the Ministers statement thai he was running railways to'-pay.' It was stated:thatthe rate,.per ton' per. mile ;for -,thoi camago, of coal for 211 miles was 5Jd.; for 200 miles, it was 2 1-sd. Tho freight on coal from Taupiri '-• to''. Wanganui... 280 miles, was 15s. Cd., but the freight on other cool to Taupiri would ; bo 18s. 3d. The freight on coal from Wanganui to laihape, 79 miles, was 9s. 3d.: per .ton, awl .from Taupiri to Wanganui, 280 miles, only Us. 2d.; Wellington to Taihape, 160 miles, 10s. 9d., or only a difference of Is. M., although the .distance was- double that from Wanganui. to Taihapo. .Tho freight •from Maupirl: to New, P ymouth. .387 miles,' was only_l3s., so, that .coal was carried from: .Wanganui Jo New Plymouth; 107 miles, for'ls. 10d. a r ton. Ordinary coal landed, at Wanganui was charged Ss.' 3d. a ton, amt Newcastle 10s 7d. : to Haweraj but'the Government railed Taupiri from Wanganui to Hawera for Is.' The chamber 'expressed,, the opinion that the, freights were ..inequitable and unbusiness like, and . a public meeting is to be held to.protest, :■■