The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1878.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 596, 30 March 1878, Page 2

The Evening Mail. SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1878.

We think that we have a right to ask the question, is anything being done to arrange a grain tariff more equable than that which gives an unfair advantage to the Christchurch-Timaru line? If not. there is just cause for continuing the outcry that was lately raised by the Chambers of Commerce in Timaru and Dunedin, and by the merchants of Oamaru, against the injustice of a system in which it must be now acknowledged there is more harm, than good. From whence is the benefit of such a tariff to arise, and who are to be the recipients of that benefit, if any I It is stated, as the only argument in its favor, that the coasting vessels trading between Timaru and Lyttelton were making charges for freight much lower than those that, up to the

period of the last change, ruled on the Timaru-Christchurch railway; and that it was with the object of retaining the traffic that the reduction was made by Mr. C'oxyers. We give that gentleman every credit for his good intention in the matter ; but, for once, must dissent from his opinions. The receipts upon the Timaru-Christchurch line, in consequence of the reduced tariff, may be increased, but we maintain that they will not be increased to an extent that will warrant:

the change. For it must be taken into consideration that the greater the traffic the greater the wear and tear of rails and rolling-stock, and that a large quantity of grain that would have been carried to Timaru aud Oamaru at higher freight 1

charges, will now go direct to Lytcelton. So that it will be seen that the increased traffic and income will be created at the expense of the rails and rolling-stock, the natural traffic of other portions of the line, and the unfortunate owners of coasting craft, with whom the Government has entered into competition. So far as the first consideration is concerned, the amount receivable from traffic at the rate per mile now ruling on the TimaruChristcliurch line, cannot possibly pay working expenses and wear-and-tear, and it is not fair that the railways of other parts should be taxed by a higher tariff in order to make up for this deficiency, in addition to being deprived, through the inequality of the tariffs, of a portion of the trade tliat naturally belongs to them. An instance of the operation of the new tariff came under our notice the other day. A large quantity of grain was to be transhipped from St. Andrews, a point 110 miles from Christchurch and 42 miles from Oamaru. The charge for taking it to Christchurch would be about 15s. per ton, whilst that for carrying it to Oamaru would be Us. 3d. —a difference in price of about 3s. 9d. per ton, whilst the distance to Christchurch is nearly three times as great as that to Oamaru from the point of transportation. The grain referred to was taken to Christchurch. Here is an evidence of the injustice with which Oamaru and Timaru ;

ire being treated ; and Dnnedin, too, will have to look to her trade. We are not meeting with the consideration due to us. Not only are we called upon to suffer the Loss consequent upon the diversion of our natural trade, and to pay nearly three times the tariff charged to others, but must be content to wait f»r the rolling stock which the reduced freight charges.on the Timarn-Christchurch line have diverted from Oam arn anclelsewhereuritil.it has no-further use for them, let our incon-venience-be never so great. confess that, on the surface, the reduction of freight' charges on the Timaru-OhristT church line seemed called for ; but on mature thought, no sensible man could possibly continue to champion such a change. If the principle were carried out to any great extent, it would upset all the advantages which some seaports should possess over others. It would bridge distance in. such-a manner a.s to be greatly and unfairly prejudicial to the interests of some places and beneficial to others ; and we have no better instance of that than the one we have just mentioned. The advantages which are conferred upon the favoured places are purchased at the expense of those places that suffer through the unfair competition which unequal tariffs create, when the principle is carried to an extreme issue. The coasters sailing between Timaru and Lyttelton may have been run off the trade if that. can be

considered any advantage—but the maintenance of commercial equilibrium has also been endangered. So important a matter is the regulation of a railway tariff, because of the weighty interests involved, that, in our opinion, it should be considered with the greatest care by all connected with the department whose experience and wisdom render them authorities in such matters. The fear of a few unimportant coasting crafts, whose masters and crews are scarcely doing more than earning a livelihood, did not warrant a change which has created so much dissatisfaction amongst the merchants at this end of the line ; whilst those of Christchuroh and Lyttelton are chuckling over the advantages which the change lias brought them. We have every reason to believe that the representations made to Mr. Conyeks by the aggrieved will bring forth good fruit. He will perceive that the competition of a certain number of coasting vessels is inevitable, and that the attempt to run them off, so far from conferring the benefit sought, will only end in direct and indirect loss. There is a rate suited to every section of our lines, which can be arrived at, not haphazard, but by careful study, and which would deal justly with every community fed by those lines ; once computed, no paltry consideration is a sufficient cause for its alteration. We recommend that strenuous and immediate measures be taken to rectify the evil.