DUNEDIN AND THE GRAIN TARIFF

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1242, 28 February 1878, Page 3

DUNEDIN AND THE GRAIN TARIFF

[l3y Telegraph.] [from the correspondent of the press' Dunedin, February 27. The meeting of the Duncdiu Chamber of Commerce, convened, for noon to day, to consider the Lyttelton railway tariff, lapsed for want of a quorum. Those members present, viz., Messrs Oliver (chairman), Leary, Pym, Paterson, Davie, Webb, Robt. Wilson, and Hon. W. H. Reynolds, then agreed to discuss the proposed tariff conversationally. The Chairman pointed out that the tariff on grain and wool had boon reduced very materially, if those articles were taken through from Timaru to Lyttelton, but the other items hud been raised, so that the same result to Government would ensue. The difference had been made in a very marked way. The rate to Lyttelton from Timaru, a distance of 107 miles, had been fixed at 14s for grain, while from Timaru to Oamarn, a distance of only 53 miles, the charge was 13s 4d or 8d less. It was the most barefaced thing that had been witnessed in railway management, and it was quite clear that it had been done to raise the artificial prosperity of Lyttelton at the expense of the whole colony. The whole of the community, from the North Island to the Bluff was being taxed for the purpose of artificially raising the prosperity of Lyttelton, and the carrying interest of the steamers was sacrificed for the purpose of bolstering up that one port. Mr Davie said—lf an injustice has been done - as regarded centres, it is only right we should look into it. It is not right for the Chamber to take up the question of competition between the railway and steamers. The railway is bound to do the best it can. The Chairman—We have the right to look that ‘the chamber should met# out evenhanded justice between conflicting interests as regards centres. Mr Wilson said the fact was that during the last two or three years the Dunedin merchants had been “ sat upon ” in more ways than one. Our railways had been neglected, and now the Canterbury merchants were being favored as regarded the tariff, while other places were being handicapped. It was the duty of the Government to give every place a fair field and no favor, and he did not see why Dunedin should always be handicapped against other places. For instance, they had experienced a great drawback in not having the Northern and Southern lines opened for the last two years, and he must say that their trade was falling off very considerably for no other reason than that these two lines had not been completed. Mr Davie.—lt appears from the public prints that the rate from Timaru to Lyttelton is 14s per ton, but from Lyttelton to Timaru it is 20s. That is the injustice we have got to put our fingers on and represent to the Government.

Mr Pym—l think the best course for the chairman to take is to write to the Governngent drawing attention to the injustice.

Tho Chairman—We shall have Ministers here shortly, and perhaps the best way will be to seek an interview with them. The Hon. Mr Reynolds suggested one scale of rates ; but several members pointed out that this would not work.

The following appears in the “ Otago Daily Times ” of Tuesday ;—Tho full importance to Dunedin of a telegram which appeared a short time ago referring to an alteration in the railway tariff between Timaru and Lyttelton is probaoly not known to many. We have taken some trouble to inquire into the matter, and find the following to be the effect of the change Rates on wheat from the various stations in South Canterbury to Timaru have been raised from fh'o to fifteen per cent. From Timaru and Washdyke, the junction of the Albury line, to Lyttelton they are lowered over 30 per cent. From Timaru to Lyttelton the rate on wheat is now lls per ton, but from Lyttelton to Timaru it is 20s Id. From these simple facts we think everyone will admit that the new tariff is entirely in the interests of the port of Lyttelton, and of no one else, and entirely against the interests of the port of Timaru. Through ting latter it injuriously affects our port up to the extent to which we have profited by the Timaru grain trade, and this has not been inconsiderable for many years past. To the farmers of South Canterbury it is of no advantage, for the great proportion of these have to use the lines converging on Timaru and Washdyke, on which rates have been raised nearly as much as they have been lowered from these stations to Lyttelton. As tho Dunedin merchants have hitherto secured the great part of the trade of South Canterbury by their own enterprise and foresight, it does not seem fair that they should now be directly handicapped unfavorably in the adjustment of the railway tariff. We cannot but think that the Government have not been fully aware of the position of matters when they made the alteration. Still more extraordinary does it seem when it is remembered that last grain season there was a block for months on the Canterbury Railways, which had the effect of causing the removal of Mr Conyers from here- to cope with it. This year it is estimated that there will be GO or 70 per cent, more grain to be carried, irrespective of this diversion of a large part of the produce of South Canterbury, so that it is equally inexplicable that a reduction of 30 per cent, should be made in the rates, ns that so large an additional burden should be voluntarily accepted or rather sought for by the railway authorities. If it were only for the principle of a diversion of traffic from its natural course by adjustment of rates, we think it is worth the attention of our Chamber of Commerce, to whom Mr Larnach, much occupied as he is, would no doubt give useful explanations or favorably consider their reasonable representations. But when it is a question directly affecting the trade of our Port, all the more does it seem to us pressing that the matter should be taken up by our merchants jn pome way or other;