The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 955, 17 July 1877, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 17, 1877.

The committee of the Chamber of Commerce, to which was committed the task of considering the new railway tariff, hare brought up an interim report. It was read at a special meeting of the Chamber yesterday, and deserves more than passing attention. The first recommendation made has reference to the increase in the passenger fares for what we may call the ordinary tickets as distinguished from the season. # The committee recommend a reduction of the fares, as they are of opinion that to keep them at the present rates is prejudicial to the progress of our railways. In this we most cordially agree, as there can be no doubt that the increase in the fares is a step in the wrong direction. As we pointed out in a former article, it was quite uncalled for; the revenue from the passenger traffic, so far at least as this part of the colony is concerned, was, prior to the change, largely on the increase. It is therefore difficult to see what reason the Government could have had for taking such a step. At the same time also that they do this they make a reduction of some 40 per cent, in the season tickets. Now, under the most favorable circumstances, the increase in season tickets by the change can not be very great, whilst on the other hand, the reduction in the number of people travelling on the lines by the ordinary ticket is considerable. That this is so is proved by the falling off already noticeable on our own lines, although the increased fares have only been in operation for a few days. The next 0 -ition of the committee —that referring to 2* crea n tion of a clasS f ° r small goods, has . Q ' lso ™* *W™?£Tvr b . .• ' should this Many a small iarmer wiix, be brought into force, bring small stock of produce to the market, which, under present arrangements, he is precluded from doing —at least by rail. If this is wanted to be done now the seller has to drive some miles into town, and the result is that the purchaser has to pay for the increased cost of horse and dray, &c, as compared with the light cost of rail transit, if the suggestion of the committee were carried into effect. The energetic protest of the committee against the present heterogenous classification oh' goods needs no words to recommend it to public support. The examples quoted in the report are so striking in their absurdity that it is matter for wonder how tney escaped the notice of

the framers of tlie tariff. This of course is the back'bone of the whole argument, and wo can see nothing that can be advanced in favor of the retention of the present arrangement. That the tariff has been hastily and illadvisedly framed is plain, and the Government cannot with any grace at all refuse to reconsider what is evidently a blunder on the part of some one. To carry all goods by weight, as is done by the shipping companies, is by far the fairer way both to the railway and the importers, and besides this it simplifies the keeping of accounts very considerably. Another suggestion made by the committee is one which deserves very careful consideration at the hands of the Government. We allude to the reduction of rates of carriage where the distances are long. In most of these cases the railway has to compete with water carriage, and if it is in-

tended—as we contend it should be—to make our railways primary agents in opening up the country, then facilities superior to those offered by water carriage should be afforded. It must be remembered always that our railways are not being worked with a view to produce dividends; so long as they pay a fair return on the cost of their construction, sufficient that is to cover the interest and sinking fund of the money borrowed to make them, that is all they are expected to do. Hence every encouragement within reason should be offered to producers residing at a distance from the centres of population to make use of the lines to get their produce to market. This can only be accomplished by a liberal tariff of rates for distances over say fifty miles. Taken as a whole, the report presented deals fairly and liberally with the whole question, and the suggestions made are such, we believe, as if accepted by the Grovernment, will conduce to the general prosperity of the district. We trust, therefore, that the Government will give due weight alike to the arguments of the deputation appointed to lay the views of the Chamber before them, and to those contained in the report of the committee, and that the result will be a considerable modification and alteration of the present tariff in those particulars where it has been pointed out that it is required.