RAILWAY CHARGES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 December 1938, Page 4

RAILWAY CHARGES

(Continued from page 7.)

EXAMPLES OF NEW RATES.

“Taking a few typical illustrations, the ten per cent addition to passenger fares will increase the ChristchurchLyttelton 12-trip workers’ weekly ticket by 4d from 3s 6d to 3s lOd or one-third of a penny per trip; similarly the Lower Hutt-Wellington 12-trip ticket will increase by 5d from 3s 9d to 4s 2d or .41 d per trip .... Coming now to freight rates,” the Minister continued, “based on the average haul of all consignments for last year the increased rate on sheep will amount to less than one penny per head and cattle approximately 7Jd. Brown coal with an average haul of 126 miles will be increased for that distance by less than Is 4d per ton. The Government has come to the conclusion that over the whole field of our passenger and goods operations the alterations decided upon, spread, as they are, equally over all classes of traffic, whilst'materially improving the net revenue position of the Department, will not prejudicially affect the trend in trade and industry generally. A SIMPLIFIED TARIFF. “Following upon the indication given in my first Railways Statement presented to Parliament wherein I stated that the railway tariff was to be critically reviewed in terms of the Government’s general policy with a view to simplifying the'classification and rates, in line with present-day requirements, and the representations that have been made to me from time to time regarding the subject, a flattening out of the higher rates for general merchandise has been decided upon by Cabinet,” stated the Minister. “This decision will bring about the elimination of the two highest classifications in the tariff (classes A and B) and their merging with the next lower classified rate (class C). Thiss adjustment will not, however, be introduced until the commencement of the new financial year on April 1, 1939. In addition to the simplification of the tariff, which will be appreciated by the business community generally, the general effect of the adjustment will be to bring the method of assessing railway freights more closely into line with the practice followed by road operators. This decision.” concluded the Minister, “follows on the purchase of those long distance competing road services ' which the Government has already decided upon. It also fulfils the promise made on behalf of the Government that a simplified method of railway rating would be introduced as soon as the Purchasing Tribunal has completed its work, which is now nearing an end, so far as those services already listed for purchase are concerned.” In connection with the social services rendered by the railways of New Zealand, apart from those for which it is recouped through its revenue account, the Minister said it must be recognised that as far as practicable the expenditure that is economically made in the provision of railway transport facilities must be recovered in the charges made to the users.