THE FEILDING CHRONICLE AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22, 1879. DEMURRAGE ON TIMBER.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 85, 22 October 1879, Page 3

THE FEILDING CHRONICLE AND ADVERTISER. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 22, 1879. DEMURRAGE ON TIMBER.

The sawmiller.s.are; sorely exercised on the question of "tlieV demurrage charged on timber sent per rail. Fro.m what we yean learn it appears that for- every timber truck not unloaded within four ■working hours after arrival at its dastiynation, demurrage at the rate Of £l sterling per day can be, and is ir some— y we 'do. not say.eyery— instance charged.. We do not for a moment question the Tight, or even the expediency, of charg--7 ing demurrage, especially with the present inadequate supply of rolling stock. i.jff, under these circumstances", demurrage were n,ot charged, the timber traffic eonld not be carried on, for one or two sawmillers would then be able to monopolise- the u,sef of the few. trucks for a long, time, to the detriment of the other sawmillers aiid the general derangement of the traffic But what we contend, and wei-thitik the Manager— ■who, we are gliid to -kiioW, is ever accessible to reason— will agree with Us, is that it is not*fair to. the ; saw miller a to millet them m . such hea vy -- penalties .Tvitho'ut giving th<?m notice and asking for. instructions. , Ifc often happens that an order comes from Wanganui, say. or Eai Iwi> or other, statiah ah the 'line, the timber is despatched, tho consignee does not appear to like delivery within the four hours, and when he does, come be finds i that., £l oi. £2 per truck is charged for demurrage. This materially adds to the cost per hundred' feet, and he very naturally refuses to, take do, ii very. In the course of a day or two the consignor is communicated with, who finds to his dismay; that the demurrage has increased to £3 br£4 per truck, and as a result, the timber is frequently sold fbi* what it will fetch, to pay tho amonnfc due for demurrage. We have heardjufs.eve.ral eases m whfrh " this result has ; folloWedX "Wo think that this is a grievance which the sawmillers are iustly entitled- to complain' , or, and are justly entitled to have redressed. Tms may be accomplished very easily.. If, within flic first- two ortnree of the Prescribed foiir hour*, the consignees do not put m" an appearance, let. the. consignor be notified per tele--graph of the fact, and' that it is intended to charge, demurrage.. There will, we fancy, be lb tie delay m issuing instructions to their agents' about the timber.Some such cou.-se as this might be 'adop:ed, which would have a twofold advantage: the sawmill ars would notbe m v.. dyed m unnecessary loss, and - : * i-lie tru-hs vr<>uld nob remain, as it were, i-ji-.c-d j;j. Tlie-.lutier--.is an • important coroi xr:rion. while the line, is so iii-. nrovid d with reliiiig-st-vk «•< it is at !<v.. sojir. Tin.' additional i ratfie that oU . i( i '°. ti conveyed Qwing-to, tlie trucks

being freed might' not produce so large a monetary return as the present ruinous demurrage, but the traffic Jw;onld' be carried on m a far more satisfactory manner. Justice to the consignors dictates some such course. When the timber leaves their sidings they have no more control over it. And even if there were a general understanding come to by the sawmillers that all timber would be forwarded at consignee's risk, and thus make them liable for the demurrage, endless litigation would ensue. We trust that the Manager will see his way clearly to some satisfactory solution of the difficulty which at present tends to cripple the trade very materially.