The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorported the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, APRIL 19th, 1923. A NIGGER IN THE FENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1923, Page 2

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorported the West Coast Times.) THURSDAY, APRIL 19th, 1923. A NIGGER IN THE FENCE.

A PAii.u:RAr;t in a Clui.stchnrch paper lust week hod an interesting releronco to possible ••barges tor goods traffic through Arthur's tunnel, which on tlie fare of it did not put the proposal in «• very alarming manner. It would appear, however, there is a “nigger in the fence.” The following w-s tln> newspaper statement:-

‘ A schedule of c harges t’< r the carriage of goods through the tunnel has been drawn lip, but it is not yet available to the public. It is understood that there will he no special tunnel rates, but the Department will gain a- little additional revenue by dividing the line into sections. For instance goods consigned from Greytnouth to Christchurch, w ill be charged mileage from Grcymouth to Otira, then 1.-om Otira to Arthur's Pass, and finally from Arthur's Pass to Christchurch. 111 that way the freight would be a little more than if tlte charges were based on the one mileage calculation —from G rev mouth to Cnristcliurch.

Both the Westland and Reefton Progress Leagues have taken the matter up promptly. At Reefton it was indicated the change in the incidence of the tariff' would double the freight on coal, while at the meeting of the local League here on Tuesday night. Aft Butler submitted figures, which showed how serious the impost would be. lie indicated that if the tariff were maintained under the system ol charging proposed’, hundreds of thousands of pounds would he drawn front this end of the line alone. ’I here is, therefore, the suggestion at once that the Coast and Canterbury trade are to be specially penalised to pay for the construction of the Midland railway. Admitting that there will be special handling at Otira and Arthur’s Pass, it does not fellow- that a tunnel rate should be charged. First, because the Railway Department has indicated very plainly in the past that a special rate would not be charged, and second, because in other instances in the Dominion where special handling is a necessity in railway transport, such for instance a.s the

Rimutakn incline, special rates are not imposed. It is interesting to recall, also, that when the Railway Department some few years ago took up the question of a probable tariff, the matter was reported upon by a committee of departmental officers who spent some considerable time investigating the matter. As a result of the finding then the Department came to realise that the railway would he able to compete with sea borne traffic and freights practically as far south as Oamaru, and that in consequence, the volume of goods traffic over the line was going to be so abnormal that not only would it he necessary to operate the tunnel day and nigh; to gel the goods tlnougli but that the whole line would require over-hauling to carry heavier engines to draw heavier loads. It is a lint, also, that the Repaitment has been spending thousands of pounds imploring the line on hath sides of the ranges and enlarging stations and sidings to handle the goods traffic. Having done all this, it would now appear that such a heavy impost is to tie imposed in freightage that tie railway traffic "ill he very seriously restricted, and that the seaborne trade will be able to continue competing with the railway, despite the frequent hatidling and loss ol t.me in shipping goods. If this is the state el aff iiis which is to arise it will le a reflection on the commercial management of the railways, and it will nut he surprising that the lailways will coin.hoc to lose thousands per day. There '.'as some, inkling of this when the commercial agents were here lost week, in the remark reported to have been made that high class gooils. such as drapeiy and groceries, would still come mainly by sea-borne freight. However, the whole subject, very wisely, is being referred to the Canterbury Progress League for full investigation, and lliai body has the organisation at hand to go very exhaustively into the matter. Certainly it is one of the greatest import to Westland and Catitcrbn rv.