RAILWAY TARIFF.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2602, 9 August 1882, Page 3

RAILWAY TARIFF.

A public meeting of farmers and others interested in the question of the railway tariff was held at the Bead Board office, Bangiora, on Tuesday afternoon. There was an attendance of thirty-seven persons. Captain Parsons occupied the ebair. The Chairman explained that the object of the meeting was to carry out the resolutions agreed to at the Christchurch meeting on Saturday, and was held with a view of bringing pressure to be ir on the members for the districts. He pointed out the importance of the matter in hand, and hoped that the question would be fairly discussed. He called on Mr Biggins to propose the first motion.

Mr Higgins moved—” That in the opinion of this meeting the Canterbury members will not be doing their duty to their constituents unless they use every means in their power to get the present high tariff on the railway reduced, and that the matter should not bo left in abeyance till the recess.” There was nothing disrespectful in this motion. The question they had to consider was, that it was the duty of the representatives to further the opinion* of their constituents. The question of the tariff could not bo separated from its politics! aspect. The members had asked the Ministers to agree to a reduction, and the only course left was to ask them to press the claims of the public, and let the members point out that if they could not gain their ends, they must go into opposition to the Government on the question. He saw no fear that the Ministry would be disturbed, but that they would agree to the demands of the people of Canterbury. Ha pointed out that in Otago there would be greater cohesion on a question of this kind, and that there they would not on any important like question sacrifice their 1 political opinions in favor of the Ministry,

In this question he «si afraid, if they accepted what they were told, that the promised reduction* would be rery flight, and contended the member* ought to demand attention to this question, irrespective of any Ministry, [Applause.] While advocating for a reduction of the tariff on grain, which was the principal item carried on the lines, they wonld bo willing to have a reduction on the items asked for by the Industrial Association, who had been very helpful in drawing attention to the matter. In conclusion he referred to the comments of the Press on the Saturday’s meeting, asserting that the managers of the Pbbss were only able to prodnce an article three day* after any affair had happened. Ho went on to sey he was a supporter of the Press when it was conducted by Mr Fitz Gerald, but the article under notice was not gentlemanly or polite in its tone, for he failed to see why the farmers could not be allowed to meet and

discuss their matter without being subjected to unfavorable criticism in an ungentlemanly and unfriendly charscter, Mr 0. D. Croseley bric-fy seconded. The motion was hero put and carried unanimously. The Chairman asked if any one had anything to say on the railway tariff, but receiving no immediate response, said he hoped the action taken wonld be carried. The movement came from Mr Bosor, chairman of the Farmers’ Co-operative Society, and it anyone had the least interest in the matter he hoped they would assist that society, and ho thought that Mr Ensor ought to have been representing the interests of the electors in Parliament in place of the member for Cheviot. Arrangements had been made by Mr Easor for meetings in other parts of the district, which wonld be duly notified.

Mr Joseph Ford considered the people to a man ought to endorse the resolutions passed on Saturday at the meeting of the Co-opera-tive Society, and do their beet to turn out the representatives who did not heartily support the same. The Chairman put Mr Ford’s remarks in the form of a motion—“ That this meeting fully endorses the action of the Co-operative Company, and will do its utmost to turn out the representatives if its interests are not attended to.”

®Mr Mnloock would E«:ond tbe first, but net the latter part of the motion. Hr Ford supposed the latter part was too strong for some tender-footed parsons. For himself, he did not belong to the Kaiapoi Flic' ory. [ Laughter.") The motion, after leaving out all worde after “company,” was put and declared carried.

Mr Smith said the objects of the meeting had his full sympathy, but he was afraid it was rather late in the d.ty to expect to force the question on this session of Parliament. It was clear t*o him the railway could not compete at present rates against tbe carriers in the Bangiora district, but they must do so in the longer distances. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.