RAILWAY TARIFF.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 March 1925, Page 4

RAILWAY TARIFF.

WOIIK OK I!KVISION. WKifblNdToN, .March I. I*' jiinl iI v i > I,ring rapidly reached regarding llm eoniplete revision of the railway tariff. Mr Coale- informed a corespondent, before, leaving for Auckland, that on lii.s return he expected to have placed before him the results of lengthy departmental consideration. “The anomalies.” the Minister said, “have I icon under e. n.siilei at ion for two veers, and it has been necessary to have the whole business systematised and the departmental viewpoint set out. This lies been before the Hail way Management Beard for some weeks, and is being overhauled. Then the plan comes to the Minister for decision dll points of policy, including the limin(ial effect of lhr* various recommendations. On my lelurn from Auckland [ anticipate having the proposed schedules ready for my consideration. “There has been a good deal of rechi 'S'di'. at bin of goods, and. as you will remember, there was a promise given to make a reduction in lares and freights amounting to £201),000. Something has been done already regarding butter and meat freights, and also exclusion fares, but the whole financial position lias to be carefully reviewed bef o' p the cnmplete nature of tbo concessions can lie determined. ’I lie expenditure is still too liigli on ran railways, and the first tiling is to save enough to cover our expenses. The next task is to cut down operating costs.- fit) that we can make reductions in charges.” The Minister was asked what steps he had taken to ascertain, the views ol railway users on the new goods classification and charges. Mr Coates replied that, after his consideration of policy points, he would refer the whole of the proposals to the ■commercial community, leaving it to them to decide the manner ill which they would he considered, so as to give the Government the views of the railway-users as to fairness, or otherwise of * the various proposals. Coining hack to the financial aspect the Minister gn.vc another hint that the balance of £200,000 concessions was not likely to be handed out at an early date. “We must know the details of our finance before we decide,” he concluded. “We cannot make a shot in the dark.”