RAILWAY ANOMALIES.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 7, Issue 396, 30 September 1884, Page 2

RAILWAY ANOMALIES.

A cobkbspokden^ "One of Them" points out in another column some of the absurdities of that thing called the railway tariff. Its anomalies and inconsistencies have been so often pointed out ' and represented without result, that we almost despair of improvement under the i present system. In the attempts to pleaso every class of persons using the lines, the tariff has been patched, and pieced, and amended, and reduced and increased till it has now reached an alarming bulk and a bewildering intricacy. It is quite safe to say that none of the general public understand it, it is still more safe to say that very few of tke railway servants comprehend it, and it is positively certain that its original framers would not recognise their own offspring. Our correspondent, who must be complimented on the clearness and conciseness of his letter, has become unpleasantly acquainted with some of the contradictions of the tariff and points out jiow they may be avoided. But we do not condemn it on ethical grounds. We do not hope for such a high standard of morality as will remove the opportunity for what' at least looks like deception. We never could see why a ton of mutton should cost more to carry than a ton of minerals. True, it occupies more space. Then make the freight payable optionally by weight or measurement. We presume it is known exactly what it costs to haul a ton a mile. It does not matter to the department whether they haul ingots of gold or chaff, except in the matter of space aforesaid. Let the lowest payable rate be ascertained and made the basis of calculation. Let some standard of weight and measurement be arrived at. Upon such a basis we are confident a simple scale could be devised by business mea srhich would at the same time yield a moderate return, and obviate grounds of complaint like tk& present.