RAILWAY TARIFF.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1922, Page 6

RAILWAY TARIFF.

QUESTION BY MR. R. MASTERS.

“CLASS TAXATION.” 1 “Glass taxation” was the term used Iby Mr. R. Masters (Stratford) in the I House of Representatives when asking a question regarding the railway tariff. The member asked the Minister for Railways if. in the amendment of the railway tariff, provision w-ould be made for the removal of preferential rates, which operated most unfairly against certain sections of the community. The railway tariff had been framed in some respects so as to reinforce the customs tariff in the preferential treatment of certain goods, and this meant that special taxation fell upon the shoulders of country people. Mr. Masters quoted some items from the railway tariff in illustration of his point. Some of the rates, calculated on a fifty mile basis, were as follows:

advantage over imported timber on the railways, added Mr. Masters, and there were other examples that could be quoted. The arrangement wsa most unfair, since it meant that preferential treatment was accorded to certain goods at the expense of country people. It was a very unfair form of taxation. The Minister for Railways (Mr. Guthrie) promised to look into the matter. He said that the railway tariff was under consideration at the present time and he was glad to consider any suggestions from members of the House.

Article N.Z. Imported. ■Sulphuric acid ... 43s 7d 87s 2d ... 9s Gd 24s 6d Cement 14s 3d 24s Gd Preserved fruits ... 3Gs 9d 43s 7d Corrugated iron ... 14s 3d 24s Gd Steel pipes ... ...- 24s 6d 3<5s 9d New Zealand timber was granted an