THE RAILWAY TARIFF.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1942, 15 May 1880, Page 3

THE RAILWAY TARIFF.

The following letters have been handed to us for publication : Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, 3rd March, 1880. To the Hon. the Minister for Public Works, Wellington. Sir, —I have the honour by resolution of this Chamber to bring under your notice the exceptional rates charged on the Lyttelton and Christchurch line, as compared with similar lines in other parts of the colony. According to the new railway regulations issued by yourself, and now in force, goods are divided into four classes, A, B, C, and D, at 6d, sd, 4d, and 3d per ton per mile respectively j but in tho tariff, part 4, under the heading of “ Local Rates,” certain lines are exempt from these rates, and have a fixed charge instead. It is to this portion of the tariff that I respectfully desire to direct your attention.

1. Lyttelton and Christchurch Line.—For ships’ goods of classes A, B, O, and D, tho rate is 6s 9d per ton ; deduct from this the terminal charge of 3s 9d per ton, and 3s per ton for actual haulage is left for a distance over seven miles. 2. Dunedin and Port Chalmers Line.— Ships’ goods of classes A, B, C, and D, are all conveyed under the D rate, or 2s per ton over a distance of eight miles. To put the matter comparatively, it stands thus : Whereas the charge on the Lyttelton line is 3s per ton for seven miles, the charge on the Port Chalmers line is 2s per ton for eight miles. If the charges were fixed on the same basis, the rate from Lyttelton should be reduced from 3s to Is 9d per ton.

I am aware that there is a possibility of competition by water between Port Chalmers and Dunedin, and it may be contended that it is necessary to make some reduction to cope with this, but on further reference to the tariff you will find that 3. Bluff to Invercargill.—Goods of classes A, B, O and D are charged at tho D rate, or the same as on the Port Chalmers line. On this portion there can be no question of water carriage competition, any more than between Lyttelton and Christchurch, After carefully considering the subject, the Chamber is of opinion that a discriminating rate is charged on the Lyttelton and Christchurch Railway, and as I observe from a report of your remarks to a deputation on railway matters in Dunedin, that you strongly deprecate the idea that you had any intention of making discriminating rates or a tariff based on the first cost of the railways, I respectfully submit that the rate in force on the Lyttelton and Christchurch line should be assimilated with the general tariff rates on the port lines throughout New Zealand. I have the honor to be, Tour obedient servant, Geo. G. Stead, President Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.

Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, N.Z, April 14th, 1880. To the Honorable the Minister for Public Works, Wellington, — Sir, —I have the honor respectfully to direct your attention to a letter addressed to you by the president of this Chamber on the 3rd March last on the subject of the rates charged on the Lyttelton and Christchurch railway lines, and to which no reply has yet come to hand.

I have the honor to be, sir, Your obedient servant, James A. Bibd, Secretary.

Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Christchurch, 14th May, 1880. The Hon. John Hall, Premier of New Zealand, Wellington. Sir, —I have the honor, by direction of the Committee of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, to enclose for your perusal copies of letters dated March 3rd and April 14th, addressed by this Chamber to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works. No reply having been received to either of these letters, and as the differential rates complained of press heavily upon the people of Canterbury, I am instructed to address the Ministry through you, feeling confident that after full consideration has been given to this important subject by the Government, immediate steps will be taken for assimilating the railway tariffs on all the port lines throughout the colony. I have the honor to be, Your obedient servant, Geo. G. Stead, President Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.