WEST COAST TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1930, Page 7

WEST COAST TRADE

QUESTION OF BACK LOADING. REDUCED RATE ASKED FOR. CHRISTCHURCH, March 27. One of the questions discussed by the Railway and Transport Committer of the Canterbury Progress League at a conference with the Railway Busi ness Agent (Air F. Lawson) yesterday afternoon was that of backward load ing to the West Coast at reduced rates. Mr G. AI. Hall said that lie had been surprised to learn recently that a considerable quantity of hay wa purchased in Canterbury for use on the Coast. The reason of this, he had been told, was that there was too much rain 011 the Coast to allow th hay to be made. He drew attention tc the large number of empty trubks that went back from Christchurch through the Otira Tunnel, and suggested that reduced rates might he charged by tin Railway Department for the carriage of hay to the AVest Coast, thus as sis ting the farmer 011 the other side'o the Alps and encouraging the making of hay in Canterbury. Mr W. Goss: The same condition: apply to feed for horses used in the AVest Coast mills.

ATr G. H. Judd said that thousand: of tons of hay went to waste in Can ter bury every year, which was a pit l ns strings of empty trucks went bad to the AA 7 est Coast daily. Air Hall said that Canterbury could help the AVest Coast farmers bv supply

ing them with hay and at the same time bring grist to its own mill. Mr Pawsop isnid Hint liny and straw already were carried 011 a reduced rate to the West Coast, but not chaff Mr Hall said that he could not set how the Railway Department could get better results if it carried chaff at reduced rates, but he thought it could if it carried hay, which in con sequence might not be made at all 011 the Coast.

“We are a State .concern and must treat all districts in, the same way,” said Mr Pcirson. This was not the I only place where there was a. flow o' 1 ' empty trucks. Southland • sent a lot north and they went back empty and “’’.miliar conditions obtained in the North ■ Isa hid.. The Department was I endeavouring to make the system pay find was about a million arid a niiarto 1 ’ behind this year. If it diverted I trucks on routes which’did not pay it would mean a shortage on lines which were nrofitable. The Department was always un against a shortage in the grain season. '

Mr Judd ; But them would not h° manv trucks needed to carry liav T,T ”” 1 ' 1 ;+ be a losing business to tlm Railway ? “Mojt deei/J-vIW” pnsmm’pd Mr Wwson. He added that the bulk o' *'merne bnv used 00 the Coast came Nelson or MarlKoroimb py shin 711,0 deportment could mt, expect tc °ut its rates to such a level.