RAILWAY TARIFF AND TIME TABLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 855, 25 August 1881, Page 2

RAILWAY TARIFF AND TIME TABLE.

The adjourned meeting on the above question was held yesterday afternoon in the Temple Chambers, Mr A. W. Kej)al| in thp pjiaiv. The attendance was not so numerous as at the former meeting. The Chairman called upon Mr Rapp to read the following memorial which the Committee had drawn up in accordance withtheir wishes. .

"TO THE fl(jS TlfE 4CIIXG MINISTER OP Public 'Woims.

'' We, tli9 undersigned merchants, siopekeepera, tradesmen, and residents ofilasterton; wild humbly call your attention to the excessive tariff on jljp" WDllingtonriYiaS: terton .Railway line, We respepttully sub' niii tlig charges fqr the transit of merchandise af e pi only injurious, to tradety the inland townships of .the Wajrarapa, hut by rendering the cost of living far too high are a great hindrance to settlement. Your petitioners aVe of opinion that if the freight on goods convoyed between Wellington and the towns of this district were reduced say one-third, and tie minimum foed at 281bs ( instead qf'lcwt', tue t'ra'ln'o jjould be so augmented tlwf flie revenue vould fie increased and pot djnjjnishci l , Under present arrangements, special flidejsfor goods are are also prohibited owing to the high tariff materially increa' inn the cost. Pur surplus produce such as oats, chaff, strawi potatoes, baton, eggs &c, and timber particularly are likewiso from the samo cause, practically excluded from foreign .. markets, By making a judioious abatement inihepresont charges, the Government would conler a asting obligation on the settlors of the district, the industrial population, and the business community, besides doing much to assist now industries lha{ are gradually being established. Your petitioners would suggest' t'rat when moretbanqne consignment is 'fenyardod to a cousigueo' on/the same day, they should he consigned through your books as one consignment and charged for accordingly. _ Your petitioners would also point out the incouvenienoo arising from the detentions that frequently occur in the transit of goods, and would suggest that all goods delivered at railway stations should, when practicable, be forwarded by first trajn, Mnsy complaints also arise from iho weight of goods arrising here, which in 'the opinion'of your petitioners might be obviatrd by tils' use 61 official eqnsignmeut'no'tcs, or by some other simple yet satisfactory arrangement. Your, petitioners v/oijld further draw your attention to tho expediency 'bf running exoursjon trams at Jqw rates as frequently as possible during the summer' montlis, believing feat [ thoy would conduce alike to the welfare and' enjoyment of the town ana) country population, while they would olso 1)8 erninently reproductive as' regards departmental reveijuo. Your petitioners would alsq pray that the time-table at Maotortpn may be so altered as to leave an interval of at least three hours bctweoutlw arrival and despatch of the daily train, so that passengers may be able to transact their business, and correspondents to reply to letters without, a? at present, undergoing a delay of twentyfour'liouis: " And your petitioners shall ever pray, d : c.!' Mr J, lorns pointed out that the atlentiqn of tlje former meeting was directed to small goods, hut in tlfe meniorjal grain and produce were introduced, Lowering the freight on them meant importing larger quantities of these from Canterbury, and would not be favorably received by farmers.

_ Mr Bapp plated that the produce of the district was in eicess of loii'al' requirements, trie consequence 'was that 'prices went down'and farmers required another market opened to them by cheap freights, He moved that the memorial be adopted. Mr Price seconded its adoption pro forma Mr lorns again pointed out that a reduction of freight \?onld enable Oanterr bury farmers to'compete with Wairarapa ones. ' '" " Mr Itapp in reply urged (that lowering freights would enable' Wairarapa farmers to compete wi f h in the Wellington market. ' .'' Mr' Worth asked if the farmers of the Wairarapa \vere afraid of the Canterbury ones who had to tranship their produce? If they were, the Bodnpr 'they- weretaught a .leyon the -,better.„ Mr. liapp had shown that the district produced a surplus, and the Government should »n-

courage the district to do to by lowering freight, Re clause reien-ing to consignee* notes. Mr Wilton explained,tthat goods were weighed in Wellington,,and carriers had to take the weights entered on the weighhills. A slip of paper with weight marked on was given at this end, but if any dispute arose it had to be referred to Wellington. ..Anyone, could see the. weigh-bills at the station if he desired to check the carrier.; : 7

Mr Hourigan added that the" slips'of paper were given not as a right, but aB a.-, favor. ' '':-':.' . > ! \ Mr Worth, on the question of the alteration in the time-table, was surprised to see that the Daily had rubbed them up. - ; A concession like the one asked for would -. be a benefit to other townshipß beside" Masterton. He did not. wish to construe motives, but the only one he could see .for throwing cold water on the movement was that the Daily would not go down to. the other townships till three hours later; if the train were altered. ; ■

The memorial was adopted, and ordered; to be forwarded to Messrs Beethara anc\ Bunny, for presentation, to the Govern'* ment,

The Chairman was, appointed to sign, the memorial on behalf of the meeting. ; ' Mr Price moved a. special vote of thanks to and more particularly to Mr Eapp, who had taken considerable trouble in the affair.

The resolution was seconded and earned unanimously. .4