THE RAILWAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 December 1930, Page 3

THE RAILWAYS

TARIFF REVISION. INCREASES OPERATE FROM SUNDAY. WELLINGTON, Doc. 8. Further tariff increases for tlie carriage of certain classes of goods were annouced by the Minister of Railways in a special Gazette issued this evening. Owing to the fact that latest revisions have not all been made exactly in accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission, it is impossible to estimate the amount of the additional annual revenue likely to accrue, although it will he considerable. As a result of the increases and adjustments, practically the whole of the Commission’s recommendations for tariff revision have been brought into effect. COAL AND METAL.

The chief items affected by these changes, which will come into effect from next Sunday, are New Zealand, brown or soft coal, and road metal for use by local bodies. An increase in revenue totalling £65,000 is expected to result from increases in the rates for the carriage of brown coal. It was. originally proposed by the Commission that the,rate should be increased by 10 per cent, up to 100 miles, and., then gradually increased up to 15 per cent, for distances up to 200 miles, and a flat, increase of 15 per cent, beyond 200‘ miles. The opinion was expressed, by the Commission that the old i ate, appeared to favour long distance traffic. It was decide^' by;'the.. Minister, that before putting any ' increases into effect. ,so far .as charges for this class of freight were concerned, the opinions of coal owners should be secured on the question of the incidence of. the proposed increases. A conference was held recently, and although the total increase in revenue expected remains the same as that ■ estimated by the Commission, the increases have been rearranged. Under the new arrangement the rates will be increased by 11 per cent, up to 200 miles, and gradually increased by 11 per cent, to 13 per cent, between 200 and 250 miles, with a flat grease of 13 per cent, beyond 250. Another important a,lterating relates to the -removal of the concession 'granted on the carriage of road metal for use by local bodies. The removal of tliis concession was estimated by the OonVmissioh to ’ result in additional revenue to the,Department of £.29.000 per year. In referring to this class of traffic into Commission said that it •could not see why the Department should he-called upon, to carry it at a very unremurierativh rate, and it was .'recommended that should it be decided to grant some concession upon the rate proposed, namely, that for hulk goods, .such as gravel, chaff, and hav, the loss in revenue‘..should, not he borne by the Department. . .Other-.alterations, in the.tariff are, rgr. garded .bp'* the.:Department mainly as technical changes *to give effect to minor' proposals of tlie -Cbtiiriiission. A revision has been :made'in the rates for goods of the produce-type, such as grain and' potatoes. The rate on imported tifriber, except hardwood poles, has been reduced tb the same level as that for local timber. Certain minor alterations have been -'made in the rates for imported colds, ; goods manufactured from cement, and bulk goods, such as gravel, chaff, bhy and lime. At the present time tlie 'regulations make reference to imported'goods and goods of New Zealand manufacture, different' rates being charged for each. Under the new regulations the reference as to whether these goods are imported or locally made has been deleted. fruit Cases. A change has been made in the regulation dealing with empty cases for the carriage of fruit arid shooks for the .manufacture of fruit cases. This has been necessary owing to the alteration .in the rates for local and imported timber. At present this regulation makes provision for the carriage of New Zealand timber only, but imported .timber and New Zealancl timber used in the manufacture of fruit.cases will now be. charged the same- rate. Similarly, in accordance with the Commission’s report, the'charges for haulage, handling, sorting, arid, transhipment of imported the local timber have been made the same, imported timber charges being higher under the present tariff. OTHER INCREASES.

A further amendment makes provision for an increase, by 11 per cent, on brown or soft icoa I, from the coal-pro-ducing areas north of Auckland to Opua, Onerahi and Kaikohe. No definite recommendation upon this point was made by the Commission which said that local rates with comparatively few exceptions, had to be governed by circumstances of competition. An increase of 10 per cent, lias also been made on coal at present charged at local rates from .thex-oal mines to Westport, for shipment. Similarly in the case of coke from Granity to Westoort, the railage charges have been increased by 1.0 per cent, as also have those on coal and coal dross consigned from Conn’s Creek to Waimanganoa. At the present time there is- U local rate of 7s per ton on coal ex-ship at Piet-on for Grovetown or Blenheim. This rate lias been increased by 11 per cent.

An alteration in the regulation covering the Smith Island main line and branches increases local rates on coal for shipment from various coal mines in the Grey Valiev district, and Beef ton to Greymoiith by 10 per cent. A similar increase has been made in the case of colcc, clay, and bricks from Brunner to Grevniouth, and also on coal from Diinollifr to Rwnanga.