FREIGHT ON BENZINE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 April 1913, Page 3

FREIGHT ON BENZINE.

(To the Editor) Sir, —At a meeting of our Association, held recently, the matter of railway freight on benzine and kerosene was brought up and discussed. It was pointed out that the charge of 2s l J 2 d per case on benzine, and Is 4£d on kerosene, from Wellington to Masterton (a distance of 07 miles) was, in the opinion of the members,' iniquitous. The Vanie conditions apply to railage of kerosene and benzine throughout the Dominion. A comparison was made between the relative freights on benzine and kerosene and potatoes respectively, and while a ton of the latter would occupy as much space as a. ton of either the former, it was considered the rate of N.s -'d per ton on potatoes, and 58$. !)d on bpn/.ine, and 30s Id on kerosene, was ridiculous, and out of all proportion. When everything is taken into consideration, it will readily be seen that it is palpably unfair that farmers and motorists should be penalised to such a great extent. It.is. quite apparent that the high rate charged for benzine was arrived at many years ago, when the demand was very small, and when it was, perhaps, necessary to make .special arrangements to convey a small quantity over the railway. In some instances'a few cases would, owing to the uncertain nature of the spirit, occupy a whole truck limes have materially altered since then, and it can he. safely said that tor every case handled by thr radway years ago, many hundreds are now earned by it. It was felt, ohnt as the railway authorities in handling benzine and kerosene take no responsibility so for as leakage is concerned, and that as a nile,"*he trucks are well filled, and the risk of tire greatly exaggerated, every effort should be made bv all concerned to ■induce the railway authorities to reduce the freight even to the extent or one half the present rates. Kerosene and .benzine are such important factors m-the. progress "of the country, forth from, a feiroiftg, and a com-, mercial standpoint, thatch© Association feels sure that if itJjas.your cooperation Jn endeavouring to brim* pressure to bear upon the authorities' the .Railway Department would diately take s teps to rearrange their tariff ,:n respect to these articles. To this end we shall be glad if you would hied your co-operation by writing d:rect to the Minister of Railways askmg for a reduction. Sufficient time will be given for protests to be lodged before a deputation will wait upon the Minister with facts and figures which we hope will be instrumental in inducing him to give the necessary instructions towards procuring a .substantial reduction. As the above, to a great extent, materially affects the whole community, especially in view of the high prices ruling to-day for .spirits, mv Association feels sure that it can relv upon 'you* asistance—l am, etc., ' .^;<■ > T. V. WILSON, ~ : See. Wairarapa Auto. Assn. Feathersfon, March 31st, 1913.