FREIGHT CHARGES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 45, 22 February 1930, Page 11

FREIGHT CHARGES

EAILWAY POLICY

MANY TRADERS CONCERNED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

HAMILTON, This Day,

The declaration by Mr. H. H. Sterling, Genoral Manager of Railways, of a change of policy in regard to'freights is perturbing the traders doing business in a variety of lines requiring road or rail carriage.

Mr. Walter Seavill, the chairman of the Farmers' Auctioneering. Co., which has large ramifications throughout South Auckland, stated that what Mr. Sterling advocated was not equitable, notwithstanding his assertions to the contrary in that the policy he was adopting was frankly one of robbing Peter to. pay Paul. s Neither .was it good business.. ,'. ....

"If the Government engages in' commercial x'ursuits it should do so on a competitive basis, and not take advantage of its position to ride rough-shod over private enterprise," he said. "If the railways are rendering good national service by carrying manure, etc., at below cost, and I think they- are, the Department concerned should be recompensed by the Departments of Land and Agriculture. I believe this ia being done up to a certain amount, and this principle might be given further effect to.' This would be equitable and would be an example of the Government's ability to take a long-sighted view of the matter.

"To try and make up the leeway lost on the transport of one class of goods by taking advantage of their position by extracting it from the pockets of fhose who are affected by the rates ruling on other classes is obviously unfair on the part of the Department. Freights have- to be reflected in the retail price charged, and what, hope would certain companies: have of successfully conducting that part of their business coming under classifications A, B, or C with firms dealing in these goods only, who carry them by lorries at a cheaper rate than the railways. They can consequently • snap thoir fingers at tho Railway Department, seeing that tho Department has no way of successfully retaliating by penalising them on goods classified under D or E.". '