The Manawatu Standard PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verites MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1883. THE TIMBER INDUSTRY. SUCCESSFUL AGITATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 67, 12 February 1883, Page 2

Manawatu Standard PUBLISHED DAILY.) Suivant la verites MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1883. THE TIMBER INDUSTRY. SUCCESSFUL AGITATION.

It will be remembered that attention has been frequently drawn m these column's to the unfair demands which the Government had imposed on oursawmillers and timber exporters, m making no freight concessions for timber _ sent by rail to Wanganui or Koxton, for transhipment to Australia. A reduction of 25 per cent was allowed on direct shipments to Austvalia, but if the cargoes had to bo transhipped from Wanganui, Faxton, or no such deduction" was allowed.* 1 * This waß manifestly unfair, and a #reat hardship to exporters, and was on the face of it a oust unreasonable stipulation, prin* cipally owing to the fact: that yjeisels of large tonnage could not get^into the Wanganui or Manawatu rivers, owing to the shallow depths ;on the bars, or from other Thus, as the regulations stood, sawmillers could only take advantage of the railway concession when they v shipped direct j but if jthe cargoes were sent for transhipment via Wellington, for instance, full rates were, charge^ , thus ha^di-capgi^g J he; shipper to a serious extent. An agitation i was got up to have this vexatious stipulation removed, as tending! to greatly retard the development of! the timber, frade. We are glad to be ible to state that the agitation has been successful, and that tho following new scale of timber freight came into force r on the. .Wellington .and .Wanganui rails jfe&fc; " khifeTpW timber consigned from sawmills to Wanganui, Foxton, and Wellington '■ for - shipment direct to Australian ports will ,be charged 25 sper; .bent, less than : the rates "for timber' l ior transhipment j minimum rate, 8d per 100 superficial feet. Consignments to these,^ports for transhipment v to Australia' will : be charged the same rate, upon a statutory declaration being furnished." It : is satisfactory to know that common senße has been brought to bear upoii a question so essential to the prosperity of the timber industry m this district.