RAILWAY RATES

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 307, 5 February 1910, Page 5

RAILWAY RATES

GLARING ANOMALIES. By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Wanganui. Friday. Members of the Chamber of Commerce lasfc evening spoke strongly in condemnation of differential rates 011 the railways, and ridiculed the Minister's statement that he wag running the railways to pay. It was statedthat the rate per ton per mile for the carriage of coal for 20 miles was S'/od, and tor 200 miles only 2 l-sd. Freight on coal from Taupiri to Wanganui, 2SO miles, was 15s Gd. but the freight on .other coal to Taupiri would be IS* 3d. Freight on coal from Wanganui to Taihape, 70 miles, was 9s 3d per ton, Taupiri ,0 Wanganui, 280 miles, only lis 2d, and from Wellington to Tailiapc. IGO miles, 10s fld, or only a difference of Is 4d, although the distance was double that from Wanganui to Tailiapc. The freight from Taupiri 10 New Plymouth, 387 miles, was only 13s. so that coal was carried from Wanganui to New Plymouth, 107 miles, for Is lOd per ton. Ordinary coal landed at Wanganui was charged 8s 3d per ton. and Newcastle 10s per ton to Hawera, but .the Government railed Taupiri from Wanganui to Hawera for Is. The Chamber expressed the opinion that the freights were inequitable and unbusinesslike, and a public meeting is 1 to be held to protest.