RAILWAY CHARGES

Hokitika Guardian, 5 January 1929, Page 2

RAILWAY CHARGES

The Secretary of the Westland Agricultural and Pastoral Association, Hokitika, has received the following letter:— Dear Sir, —In reply to your letter of Ist November, in connection with the rates on root fodder from Canterbury to West Coast stations, I have to advise you that this matter has been carefully considered, but I regret I am unable to recommend any reduction in the present rates. Enquiries have been made in the various Districts on the Coast, but there does not appear to be any prospect of a sufficient increase in the present traffic to warrant any reduction in the rates.

In this connection I would draw your attention to the concession that was made to the West Coast farmers in con. nection with the railage on chaff, straw and hay. It was anticipated that a considerable amount of additional traffic would be induced as the result of the concession, but practically no advantage has been taken of it, by the farming community on the Coast. If your Association is prepared to submit figures shewing the estimjqbied increased traffic in root fodder that would be induced as the direct result of a reduction in the rates, I am prepared to give the matter further consideration, but with the information I liavo at the present time, I cannot, as stated abovo, rocommond that the existing low rates should be reduced.—Yours faithfully, H. A. PENN, District Traffic Manager.