RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

Evening Star, Issue 19804, 1 March 1928, Page 16

RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

tj ma amxoa Sir.—Tiio letter in to-night’s ‘Slur’ would be scarcely worthy of notice, hut for the fact that it appears over the signature of a well-known business man in’this city. It should bo obvious that mail and express trains arc primarily provided for passenger transport, and there is a limit to their capacity without incurring the expense of additional engine power. An increased rate ol charges is therefore necessary to restrict the weight of goods traffic in order that these trains may maintain a fast schedule of running time. But, apart from this, the Minister would be quite justified in making a reduced charge for the carriage of beer by ordinary train services in order to meet the keen competition by sea lor tins class of goods. The _ Minister’s job is to run the railways i'u a manner that shall make possible the payment of dividends to the shareholders, among whom are included both Mr Stevenson and myself, and the chief difficulty in the way of doing so to-day is motor and sea competition. It was by meeting and beating his competitors in precisely similar lashion that Mr Stevenson built up the transport business of which ho is the head, 11 ending between the linos of Mr Stevenson’s elfnsion, bis grievance appears to be (hat the beer companies “pay ami flourish.’’ Would it be too much to have him toll ns whether in his career in the transport business ho has ever imposed a do to 50 per cent, additional charge on the cartage of beer in an honest endeavor to curtail the profits of such companies!’’—.l am, etc., CI. KAN Jk’KISKSS. February 28.