RAILWAY RATES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 347, 22 March 1911, Page 5

RAILWAY RATES.

To the Editor. Sir, —It may, perhaps, be taken as a fact that the "Railway Guide" is regarded as a very complicated work, even by "business" men; so that farmers- or others whose vocation does not usually lead them to make keen enquiries into varying rates, minimums, etc., may well be excused if they look upon the affair as quite a puzzle. Here is another aspect of railway tariff arrangements which should interest the people living inland (for, indeed, all such are really consignees). The distance from Auckland to Te Kuiti by rail is 126 miles, from Auckland to Thames is 148 miles, Auckland to Waihi 141 miles, and from Auckland to Paeroa 128 miles. Under clasess A, B, C, and D, all goods are freighted by rail at a uniform rate of 25s per ton from Auckland to Thames, Waihi and Paeroa. Under class D (which includes plain fencing wire) the charge Auckland to Te Kuiti is 29s 9d per ton, goods under class G are charged 36s lOd per ton, calss B 45s lOd, and class A as high as 55s 10c: per ton. The question which naturally presents itself is whether the State is carrying goods to the Thames, Waihi, and Paeroa localities at a loss; or, if 25s per ton pays for freighting goods 148 miles, why must Te Kuiti consignees pay 55s 10cl per ton for I2G miles —more than double the money for 22 miles less carriage. It seems that not only is the South Island, through the Railway Department, receiving concessions at the expense of the North Island, but that on account of the stress of competition with shipping, that differential rates are in vogue in this island itself. —I am, etc., W.M. Te Kuiti, 20th March, l'Jll.