The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1896. RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 213, 12 March 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 1896. RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

In the New Zealand Times of: yesterday appeared an article giving an out- ' line oil several important proposed! changes in railway freight charges, under the heading of " Valuable concessions to be granted to small farmers." One of the principal alterations is in response to a general desire on the part of small settlers in th*e country that they may be able to get a truck load of goods of mixed articles, such as grass seed, lime, potatoes, manure, etc., by #ne truck. Instead of being charged separately ; for each line, they are to be allowed to j have them all weighed in together and charged as one' Jot in one sum. The Minister has determined that where goods are forwarded in the manner indicated, they n>ay be charged altogether at the total ,or minimum weight for the whole lot, and &, jfch,e highest truck load rate to which any ,o| the lines belong. In other words, the! settlers, instead of having their lime, manure, seed, and potatoes, charged separately, will have them all charged for in one lot. This will be a very great concession to small settlers all over the country, $# ,stay be gathered from the following illustration :— Un4&r the present regulations a se,fctls,v receiving one ton of firewood and two tons of cod, f.ov fifty miles by rail, is charged £2 8s $d. Under the new regulations he will pjty p^ly £1 l'4s 3d. Another alteration w;h,ich eiso^l.d j be app*.CoJated by settlers aad small: settlers geas^allv- is that lime and '

manure may be sent "under mark " to j one consignee for distribution to seve- i ral consignees. This change will be welcomed by small settlers who are unable to pay for the minimum quantity carried (30ct), and will enable them to club together and obtain manure and lime for their properties." We doubt very much whether the change will be an unmixed blessing to " small farmers," while we are certain it will be a deadly blow at the " small country storekeeper." Of course it is within, the limits of possibility that the latter could take advantage of the concession by getting a " small tarm " friend to act for him — for a consideration, but the game would hardly bg worth the candle. We approve entirely of produce, such as grain, fruit, wool, cheese, butter, and potatoes, being carried to a market at a minimum rate because that is a direct incentive to farmers to exert themselves to the fullest extent and employ extra remunerative labor on their land. It is, of course, within the limits of possibilty that goods under Class A may only bo carried at the present rate, but still the words " a truck load of goods of mixed articles " leaves the point open to doubt. Tinkering with the railway tariff is quite as risky as tinkering with the customs tariff, because unexpected complications are certain 10 arise in either case. The safest general rule to follow in adjusting the railway rates is to put a minimum on produce on the. way to market, and a maximum on goods under Class A returned to the country settler, whether sawiniller or farmer. It is the employers and their men, with those dependent on them, who are the principal consumers, and the revenue is benefited indirectly both by increased railway freight and increased customs duties.