RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10191, 18 March 1911, Page 5

RAILWAY FREIGHTS.

THErPIFFERENTIAL: CHARGES,

'"At the, meeting of the %. Masterton Chamber of Commerce yesterday, a letter was read from the Feilding Chamber of Commerce, stating that it was the practice of the .Railway; .Hepartraent to, impose .excessive:'bKarges ,: on the carriage of certain imported products, notably cement. In some instances the freight on imported products, it was stated, was four times that of the home product. This meant that the country districts were paying two taxations, one on the importation, and the other on the carriage.. The Chamber considered that the country should be placed .on, an. equal footing with the seaports, and only, one taxation levied—that by the Customs'* Department. Under, present conditions 'the <ra il w.i y, system - taxed the.country districts; Only and exempted the seaports. The member for the district had been requested to bring the matter before the Government, and it was asked that the Masterton Chamber take similar steps.

Mr Da niell stated that the original I'idea had been to benefit the country districts. It seemed, however, that matters, were run from a political ■point of view. : . ■ Chairman suggested that a.subI committee lie set up to consider the I mntter.'. ,

Mr DianieTl said there would he -no, difficulty in'securing Evidence moved that a v ' <?pp fc ■mitteo of Mjessrs V. Donald. J. "C. Ewin<?ton himself bo set up to report ni»on the subject. Mr Ewington said the matter appeared" to be one of Government policy. . '

The motion of Mr Daniell was seconded by Mr Henderson and carried.