METAL CARRIAGE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4860, 3 August 1925, Page 1

METAL CARRIAGE.

INCREASED FREIGHT. LOCAL BODIES PROTEST. Local bodies throughput the Dominion are seriously concerned at tne proposal to increase the railway carriage on road metal, as contained in the new railway tariff. At the meeting of the Waipa County Council last week the executive of the N.Z, Counties’ Association .advised that a deputation fully representative of counties and municipal associations waited on the Railways Board on tne subject. The proposed new tariff on the carriage of road metal required by local bodies for the construction and maintenance of roads was mount? ing to approximately a 60 per cent, increased interest on pre-war freights in respect of feeder roads and 250 per cent in respect of competing roads." It was pointed out by the president of the Counties’ Association .that local bodies were really assisting in a national work in road development which w,as not carried on for private profit or gain, but entirely in the interests of the Dominion as a whole, and that the majority of roads requiring metal on which railway freight was paid were constructed and maintained as feeders of freight to the railways, and it w.as only natural to suppose that instead of increasing the cost of freight on road metal the board board might rather reduce it, or at least let it remain at the pre-war rate. The chairman of the board stated that even under the proposed new tariff the railways would still be carrying road metal at a loss, and the board regretted it was unable to comply with the requests of the deputation.

As the reply was not considered satisfactory the council was requested to ask its Parliamentary representative to use his best endeavours in the interests of the local bodies, or, in other words, the population of the Dominion, to keei) the freight on road metal at the lowest possible charge, as good roads were essential to the progress of the Dominion in order to give access to railways which carried the primary products to the (Shipping ports.

Tuapeka County Council, in asking for a united protest against any increase, stated that it was understood that lime for agricultural purposes was carried free, the railage being paid by the Agricultural Department.. It was suggested that a similar procedure might be adopted in regard to road metal, the freight to be paid by the Highways Board out of motor taxation.

The council has already taken action, and the Prime Minister advised the meeting that the council’is objection to the proposed increase in freight rates on road metal had been noted.

Ci - . Storey remarked that it would not be of much use them coming to the council table if the proposed costs were adhered to by the board. Waipa Post.