GRIEVANCES REGARDING THE TIMBER TARIFF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 91, 15 July 1881, Page 2

GRIEVANCES REGARDING THE TIMBER TARIFF.

There are always two sides to a question, and it appears that while we and several of our contemporaries have been rejoicing over the recent reduction in the freight on white pine, one firm of sawniillers have been handicapped by the new tariff. As a rii^e, we do not care to take up private grievances, but frequently such grievances, on close examination, resolve themselves into matters of public importance. We think the two matters we are about to mention partake of this character. The first we would mention is the position in which the new tariff places Messrs Freeman & Wylds. The mill owned by those gentlemen is situated 14 miles from Foxtou. They own a vessel which regularly trades to different parts of the colony from the port of Foston, with timber, besides which they are almost constantly chartering vessels for the timber trade, in addition to shipments by almost every steamer that leaves the port. Under the original tariff, the rate from the Oroua Bridge for timber of any cla«s for shipment, was 7d per hundred feet, being 3d less thau the ordinary charge for timber for local use ; but under the new tariff, while other millers enjoy the advantage of a reduction of 25 per ceut. on white pine for Australia over and above the reduction of 8d per hundred feet on all timber for shipment, Messrs Freeman & Wylds' charges are actually increased by one penny per hundred feet on all timber, through the minimum charge being raised from sevenpence to eightpence. This increase has been made expressly to " catch " Messrs Freeman & Wylds, as no other sawmillers are affected by it. The firm named have done perhaps more than any other single firm of sawmillers fo extend the Manawatu timber trade. ToLyttelton, Timaru, Kaikoura, Wellington, Gisborue, Patea, Napier, and other ports they have sent cargoes, and as a result their business is almost entirely beyond the district, thus bringing int • it constantly outside capital, and affording traffic to the railway. The action of the Government in increasing their rates while others' are reduced is therefore impolitic. As a matter of fact, Messrs Freeman & Wylds will pay eightpence per hundred feet on white pine for 14 miles' haulage to Foxton, while millers at Feilding will pay only seven teen pence for 51 miles' haulage into Wanganui. This certainly looks like the introduction of differential rates with a vengeance. The second matter we wish to refer to is the haulage of sleepers. Messrs Bailey Bros., of Taonui, are at present executing two large con tracts for the supply of sleepers. The cusiom hitherto has been that sawmillers were allowed to load sleepers by the truck, paying £1 16s for the truck. The fiat has gone forth, however, that in future all sleepers are to be charged for as sawn timber, of course with the view of extracting a little more money- from -the -miller *. We believe, however, that they feel so strongly upon this matter that i they intend to resist it iv every legiti-

mace way.- it' cue r.mway auonoritios persist iv their determination, it is intended to load each track with only tho minimum quanti y> 1500 feet;, a course which will certainly tend to reduce the profits on sleepoi hau age. It is to be regretted vexatious alterations of this character should be made in arrangements hitherto existing, and under which sawmillers have talcu large contracts. Of all the nuisances to whi.:h business men are put, none are so annoying as tho constant tinkering of the railway tariff, loading to uncertainty regarding cost of conveyance to port. This remark applies with tenfold force to the timber trade.