The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1901. RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 49, 13 March 1901, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1901. RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

Advantage was taken of the presence of tha Hon. J. G. Ward in ths district, by the people of Stratford, to bring under his notice several matters of importance. _ Mr. Harkness, Chairman of the National D&iry Association, brought before the Minister the all important question of freights on dairy produce. Mr. Harkness, as reported by the Fgmont Settler, said while the dairying community fully recognised the support which the Government had given to the industry in the past it was nevertheless certain that the subsidy that had bsen given in the past would not be continued in the future ; at anyrate the industry could not rely on its continuance for a much longer time. No industry, said Mr. Harkness, recommends itself to the Government for si much consideration as tho dairying industry. Instancing the cost of transit of butter by rail, he pointed out that his own factory (Midhirst) had to pay no less than 7s 2d per ton gross weight or 9s nett weight for tbe carriage of thsir butter to New Plymouth. Ths factories around the mountain had arranged to purchase ths Moturoa Freezing Works at a cost of £15,000, the farmers recognising that it was in ths best interests of tho Industry that tho Works should be in their own hands. He looked upon the present freight charges upon butter as exorbitant and ho would osk Mr. Ward to take into bis favourable consideration the question of making a preferential tariff.. Why not apply tbe came principle to the carriage of butter as was in practice with regard to frui*. That was carried at so much pc-r lb. irrespective of the distance travailed. Butter had just as mueh claim to this concession as fruit. It was not just that factories situated at Hawera and other places south of Stratford stould have to pay go much more for th* carriage of their products than the factoring nearer the p*ri\ The emphyacs of the railway only had to hindle the butter once, and a conoossion in the direction indicated would be of great advantage to the isdustry. He would suggest that where butter was being carried to nny given port ths freight, tariff be lower than that whish at present prevailed.

j Mr, Ward replied tbat he would be glad to give the matter full oonsidera tion, but it was only right to say that until the 31st March he would have no material to go upon to see if the alteration would be possiblo. On the 31st inst he would go into the question of excess of reveaue over expenditure and would carefully consider over giving the reduction. Ho was determined to adhere to the policy adopted by him of giving everything over 3 per cent exesss of workiug expenses back to the people iin the shape of concessions. Whea, consideration of the railway revenue came up ho would remember tbe sue-' gdstione. His own feeling was that a universal tariff could be adopted with | advantage. He was favorable to bring|ing down freights; tbe lest reduction had been on passenger fares, the next weuld be on produce. It must be remembered that ail parts of the colony would have to be treated alike, but he would not overlook the representations made, Aftsr studying the railway | rovenue for the year the matter would be placed before the Cabinet. J