THE MIDLAND LINE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1923, Page 1

THE MIDLAND LINE.

FKttICJiT OX COAL. Tlio railage charge- upon coal conveyed over tlio Midland line from the West Coast to Christ church was the sullied of some disvus-iun at the meeting; of the Hailway Committee of the Canterbury Progress League at Christchurch on .Monday. Mr H. .). Marriner, chairman of the commtitee. said some ol the coal merchants of Christchurch, who had received consignments ot coal trom the West Coast via the .Midland line, were unfavourably contrasting the present railage rates with those charged for the carriage of coal prior to opening of the tunnel. He explained that at tile present time the Hallway Department was loreetl to ask lor two separate rates tin the eoal. Ihe .1 üblic Works Department, who still had control of till- tunnel section of the line, had refused to eliminate their separate charge, for the conveyance of coal over th.it portion of the railway, hut the Kui I\\ ay Department, instead of asking lor three separate charges—-for conveyance over the West Coast section, the tunnel section and the Canterbury section. oul v charged two rates. Mi Marriner ' said the existing charges would he considerably reduced when tile Railway Department took over lull cunt ml of Ihe line on September 1 st. The Public Works rate would then he iliminn U‘d. Mr .1. IL Mitchell : 1 doubt if the date volt mention is correet. 1 ham no idea when the Railway Department will take over cimiulcte control ol the Mr P R. Climtc ; The position ls 1 " : U the Kailwav Department will not take full control of tin■ lino until the Public Works Department has had certain necessary work done. Mr 11. Holland said it- wa- splendid to know that the line was now availaide for ilie transport ol gout.'. -aid that, along with the redact nut upon coal freightage charges, he tn.de,--tV.nl that there would lie a very substantial decrease in the carnage rate . f IH - i 'miller. Scvcial iwopU* h:u\ i')ld iiim. however, that even if this _ were , j,,. rase the local timber iie i'ciiauls did mu- intend to reduce the un.e ot limb r in Christchurcli. i his slant,d ,„.t he -I. It would he quite an mil for tea importer, to keep up t'cir charges to the public, not v.gUwtaudmg ,!„• ,7 a-od tarii! on that icmmot.U.s. The ! o:a lit Of the redu. ed charges on ,1, , a fringe Ol limber should ccrtatidx \ <A pa-anl mi l»y (lirisU’lnirrli t i men bants to Urn public. Mr Mil. hell : Since the line has been available lor the carriage ol toa.l •-onions have been brought over the hn?.