Manamatu Herald FRIDAY MARCH IS, 1881.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 57, 18 March 1881, Page 2

Manamatu Herald FRIDAY MARCH IS, 1881.

MINISTERIAL INJUSTICE. « The action of the Minister for Public Works regarding the gravel required by Mr Saunders fov his reclamation contract at Foxton is anything but creditable. Whon Mv Saunders sent in his tender, some twelve or fifteen months ago, the old railway tariff was in operation, but in October of last year the new tariff came into force. This, it is wellknown, shows a lavge increase in seveval classes, pavticulavly gravel, of which Mv Saunders will require about eight thousand yavds for the completion of his contract. Common justice, one would think, would lead the Minister to rebate the increase iv the tariff fov the gvavel required by Mv Saunders on this particular contvact, bnt Mv Oliver has determinedly shut his ears to the most convincin g proofs of the justice ofthe contractor's request. He has, however, found more than his match in Mr Saunders, , fov he is just now laying a tramway thvee miles long fov the purpose of bringing gvavel fvom a private pit that distance south of Foxton. It is tberefore a case of " diamond cut diamond." The two points we would divect attention to aye — (1.) The injustice of the Government raising the vailway taviff on gravel seveval shillings pev ton after they have let a contract requiring the haulage of 8,000 yards, and (2.) The stupidity of a Minister who, owing to a " fad," turns away business that would bring in a clear pvofit of from £700 to £'1000 pounds to the vailway revenue. Govevnment contracts will be rather unsafe affairs if the Minister alters the taviffs in the fashion referred to. I The only result will be that con- ] tractors will in their tenders allow j large margins fov possible iucrease of j vailway taviff, where they are com pelled to use the Government lines, j We think Mr Saunders would receive j justice if he petitions the House. j