SORTING CHARGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1827, 16 May 1918, Page 3

SORTING CHARGES.

RAILWAY AND HARBOUR BOARDS.

DEPUTATION WAITS ON MINISTER.

Certain small ports, struggling between the bigger ones, have a grievance which was submitted by a big deputation to the Acting -Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), and the Minister of Pail ways (the Hon. AY. H. Herries), at Wellington on Tuesday. At these ports, connected with the railways, the Railway Department handles and sorts cargo, on a scale of charges alleged to be excessive. Complaint is made that these fates place the smaller ports at a disadvantage in competition with the larger ones. Por example, it was mentioned, in the ease of AVanganui, that a readjustment of the scale, increasing the tonnage rate by Is lOd, allowed AVejlinglon and Auckland an extra range of 42 miles by railway (the freight equivalent of that Is lOd), for the invasion of AVanganui territory. This extra charge meant an additional £5,000 or £O,OOO a year passed on by merchants and others to cunsum-

Mr Herries replied that he thought it must he obvious that if the Department had to make a change in the charges for handling and sorting it should be uniform at the various ports. He would not lay this down as an exact rule at this stage, but his opinion was that Die rate should be uniform. The Railway Department did not like undertaking harbour business. It would rather he relieved; this work was thrust on the Department. The .Department merely wished 1o be recouped for its expenditure, and it would be pleased to have this kind of work done by harbour boards.

A Wanganui member of the deputation said he was sure that an amicable arrangement could be made by which the Wanganui Harbour Board should have control of (he Railway Dcparlmont’s sheds. The conditions imposed by the Department when this question had been raised previously were too drastic; the conditions should be reasonable.

Mr Herries said the Department was quite prepared to re-enter into negotiations.