MR McKERROW AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2749, 25 February 1890, Page 2

MR McKERROW AT CAMBRIDGE.

Mr MoKkrrow, chief of the Railway Commissioners, paid Cambridge a visit on Saturday, when the inhabitants were not slow to avail themselves of the opportunity of bringing under his notice many things in railway matters that need reform. Mr Hudson, the District Traffic Manager, accompanied the Commissioner, and introduced him to the persons comprising the deputations. Tmo Daily Train Skhvick.—The Mayor (Mr Priestley), Crs. Hallv, Richardson and Gillett. Mr Thomson (town clerk), Messrs F. J. Brooks, W. li. Souter and A. Clements waited upon Mr McKerrow about 9.30 a.m., at the station, and the first matter introducsd wa:; the question nf reviving the daily train service.—The Mavor said they wore very glid to have the opportunity of ineetincr Mr McKerrow to discuss the question with him. Some eighteen months ago, when there was a groat cry for retrenchment, the inhabitants of Cambridge had cheerfully acquiesced in the endeavour of the Railway Department to cut down expenses by a tri-weekly service on the Cambridge branch ; but sines that time the traffic had increased to an extent that he thought warranted them in asking for a return to the daily train. It would be presumptuous of him to attempt to compare the traffic of this particular branch of the line with the other Waikato branches, as doubtless Mr McKerrow was thoroughly cognizant of the amount of trade done upon it, and upon the others ; but he might say that it was generally understood to be much greater than that upon either the Te Awamutu, Lichfield or Te Aroha branches. He then referred to the manner in which the present train airangements handicapped the farmers. If they received an order by post for produce, they could not possibly get it to the station in time for the next morning's train, and consequently a delay of three days occurred, which was a serious item. It also affected the town by property not being enquired for, and in that way greatly hindered the progress of the place, as purchasers wore kept away by the defective train service. A petition had been forwarded to the Railway Commissioners to reinstate the daily service, and he trusted it would meet with their favourable consideration.—Mr McKerrow said the memorial would be dulv considered, and while admitting what Mr Priestly bad stated to be correct, said that the trains could carry donble the amount they were now doing. The averape number of passengers from CamOridge for the past six months was eight per day. A daily service meant employing another engine, which would cost £1.000 per year. He quite agreed that a daily train would tend to send the place ahead, but they must also look to the question of pay.—Mr Priestly thought the passengers would increase with a daily service. Mr McKerrow thought they would, but not to any groat extent. He promised to give the matter his serious consideration, but did not appear to think the concession would be granted at present.

Fkuight on Pkoduce.—Captain Soutar spoke of the prohibitive rates charged upon farming produce sent to Auckland, and si id I at the present market price the percentage on the value was as follows:—Ch iff, 12i per cent; potatoes, 20 ; cxrrots, 50 ; oats, 13 ; wheat 12. This was stifling trade, and [ it could not be wondered at that settlers were trying to sell their farms, so as to leave the district. While they iu Waikato were paying 13s Gd per ton for oats to be taken to Auckland, they were being brought from Lyttleton for Gs per ton. The rate on •haff was prohibitive, and they- might as well let thoir carrots rot in the ground as I pay half their value for carriage, as what was left would not pay costs incurred. He | also objected to paying carriage for 50 miles to send stuff to Lichfield, 25 miles awav, because the railway went roundabout.—Mr Hudson said Cambridge people had a monopoly there, and doubtless made it pay thein.—Captain Souter said the Richmond farmers were now sending chaff, etc., and had a great advantage over Cambridge, as it. was a much, shorter distance.—Mr McKerrow was glad to learn there was an increase of grain in Waikato.—Mr Clements said very little would be grown another year. He had shipped a lot, but with wheat at 3 s ! per bushel, it only returned the farmer 2s 2Jd, after paying carriage, cost of threshing and having the bags weighed in, which could not possibly pay.—Cr. Richardson said the land would produce anything, but they had no market the railway rates taking all the profit.—Mr Thomson said they were all aware that the trains could carry double the amount of goods, and that was an argument for reducing the rates, as the traffic would then increase, and though charged at a low rate the aggregate would be greater.—Mr McKerrow agreed that it would probably be so. —Cr. Gillett said the more goods the settlers were able to dispose of in town, the more goods would be sent up r inreturn.— Mr Clements remarked that those who had been driving cattle in opposition to the 'railway had made a good thing'of it. Would it not have heen as well for the railway authorities to have lowered the rates and pocketed tho money?—Mr McKerrow said whatever the authorities might do regarding cattle they could not hope to make a rate for carrying store sheep, as they could be driven in large flocks at a price that would shut out railway carriage.—Mr Clements asked for the minimum load of farming produce to ba reduced to one ton, as poor farmers were often not able to fill a truck.—Mr McKerrow was afraid the trucks would then run half empty.—Mr Hudson stated tho minimum had been reduced, and was now 30owt.

Rkturn Tickets.—lt was pointfid out that the ordinary Saturday return tickets were of no use on the Cambridge branch, as the train did not leave on that day.— Mr Hudson said tickets could be obtained on Friday to return the following dav. None of the deputation were aware of this fact, neither do we think any of the inhabitants knew of it, and we very muoh question if it has ever been exercised.—Mr McKerrow was asked to extend the time from Friday till Tuesday, or Wednesday till S-iturdav. He appeared to think the request a reasonable one, as the going to town one day and returning the next would n'it give time to transact business.—The Mayor thanked Mr McKerrow for the attention he had given thetri, and trusted the various matters would receive the serious porjsideration of the Commissioners and bring forth fruit.—The deputation then withdrew.

The Farmers.—A committee of thn Farmers' Club, consisting o£ Messrs Q. E. Clark, (chairman) J. Fisher, J. Forrest, Hi. Alleni and R. Rsynnlds interviewed Mr McKerrow about 11 a.m. Mr Clark caid it v/as universally admitted that the main object of the railways in New Zealand was to promote the settlement of land, but they were not doing s<> ki anything like an adequate manner, and he thought the time had arrived when efforts should ba made to npan up the country, which in this district particularly, was labouring under groat disadvantages, way to get the landa quickly occupied

was to give help to those settlers who had " borne the heat and burdun of the day," and fojj-.years had struggled along under adverse" circumstances. Make them prosperous and the adjoining lands would soon be occupied. Of late year-*, nearly all kinds of farming produce had fallen 50 per cent in_ value, and that and the almost prohibitive rates charged by the railway authorities, rendered, it almost impossible for farmers to make a living. The Fanners' Club hacl prepared a number of resolutions for thein to submit to the Commissioner, which he then read, and they were afterwards discussed. They were as follows '■ — (1). iSeeing that the only hope of progress for tliis colony depends on the profitable settlement of the county lands, and in order that this may be done, it is essential that all fertilisers be carried at a nominal price, say the simple cost of handling, inasmuch as the increased production would, in a short time, amply repay the department, in increased return freights. The minimum also should if possible, be reduced to one ton. (2). The charge upon hay, straw, ensilage, chaff, roots (including potatoes), is almost prohibitive; wheat, oats, barley, value about £6 per ton, on which the charge for railage is nearly 12s per ton is too high, and discourages production. A mixed truck, that might include any of the above items and carried 100 miles for 30s per truck, with proportionate rate for shorter or longar distances would be a suitable concession. 3. During the last five years the valuo of stock and produce has been, so low that settlers have raised both at a loss. Yet the Railway Department has made no material reduction in the charges, the prices being practically the same as when stock was worth 50 per cent, more money. Recently a number of stock have been sent by road to market, and experience lias shown that the driven. cattle arrived at their destination in better selling condition than when train-borne, while the cost for driving was 50 per cent, less than railway rate. An anomaly exists in the charge for sheep, which are about £10 per truck less value than cattle, but cost to Cambridge 9s per truck more to send than cattle. A uniform charge of 30s per truck for sheep and cattle would be about a fair rate. The charge for a single beast or sheep is unrea sonably high, being, Romuera to Cambridge, £1 9s. This certainly requires alteration. 4. Fencing wire: An article essential to farmers (without which orops cannot be protected) is classed at a very high rate, and requires to be modified to suit the circumstances. 5. A fast special oattle train to leave once per week (Tuesdays) from all Waikato stations would be a great boon. The recent improvement in passenger time has operated prejudicially against cattle, which are now louger in transit than before the alteration.

Mr McKerrow asked what rates the f.ivmers complained of the must? Mr Clark said the freight on potatoes and chuff was simply prohibitive; on grain about 12J P Br cent, and on stock oto GA per cent. —Mr McKerrow thought it was the crops that suffered most, and not stock.—Mr Clark pointed out that they paid no more when stock was double the present value. —Mr Fisher said the roads to Auckland were good and many were sending their stock by drovers. Mr McKerrow aslced which suffered most, those that were driven ur thnse that went by rail? —Mr Fisher said his brother had made a careful trial; he sent a number of bullocks by road, and an equal number by rail; they were put in separate pens and sold on the same day in Auckland, and tho result was they both realised the same price. This, he thought, was in favour of driving, as the bullocks sent by rail were in better condition than those driven, th.it is, when they left Waikato.—Mr McKerrow: Would it not be better t.) drive them all than ?—Mr Fisher : It takes six days to drive them, and we sometimes want to get them to the market hurriedly, "vhen West Coast cattle are Rcarce. Then again we have no responsibility after the drover has taken them in charge.—Mr Allon : And we sometimes get a dead one in the trucks.— Mr McKerrow : The West Coast farmers, have to pay much heavier charges than the Waikato.—Mr Fisher; Their country is new, and the cost of production less.—Mr Clark : Hawera is in the same position now as we were 15 years ago ; at that time we could grow crops without fertilizers.—Mr Reynolds : How is it we have to pay £2 18s for a sheop truck, and £2 9s 6d for a cattle truck, when the former are comparatively #f less value to the latter.—Mr Hudson: They have two floors.—Mr Reynolds; But that would only make a difference in the first cost. Can we not have a special rate for a single beast. When farmers are at Auckland sales they would often buy a few store cattle— perhaps a single one, if they could send them to Waikato at a cheap rata. —Mr McKerrow:—A single animal would require a trucK.—Mr Reynolds: Yes, but there are always empty trucks returned that would be utilised.—Mr McKerrow: There must be a certain sysj tern iu the managing of a railway. It would not do to give discretionary power to employees, or it is liable to get abused.— Mr Fisher: If we could bring up store cattle oil certain days at a cheap rate it would he a great boon.—Mr McKerrow: I think perhaps that might be managed.—Mr Hudson:! do not think the trade would be much.—Mr Reynolds: I think tavmers would often buy a few stray beasts, as the cost of keeping them for a day or twj, until the train day, would be very little.—Ro a special quick cattle train, Mr Fisher said ha spoke with some diffidence as they had not communicated with the head Of the department, whom they always found ready and willing to asssist them if he could; but the. cattle were sometimes delayed ori the way.- -The Commissioner understood that occasionally there was a slight delay, but lie learnt the cattle usually arrived in good condition.—Mr Allen, praised the new small cattle tracks, but complained of there only being two of them. The big bogie truck he did not like so well, —Mr McKerrow said as the old tcuck» wore out they would be replaced with new ones of the description spoken of by Mr Allen ; in fact that would be the eattle truck of the future. The Commissioner was pressed to allow farmers to send trucks of mixed produce .at the rate of 30s per 100 miles, but he, of course, did not give any decided answer.—Mr Forrest said it was hard that they must send five tons of each, article to get the minimum rate.—Mr Allen : At the present time potatoes are being shipped from Lyttelton to Auckland at 10s per ton by steamer and 7s Gi by sailing vessel. We have.to pay 13s 6d per ton to send ours to town, so you see that virtually the market against us.— Mr McKf.rrow: The potatoes are not grown at Lyttlefcon and the producers have to pay railway freight upon them ; so that puts them upon very much the same footing as yourselves.—Mr Clark : I think most of the potatoes come from Omaru.— Mr Forrest : We would like to supply Auckland ourselves, but the present opposition of 5s per ton debars us from doing so. —Mr McKerrew : Oamaru has perhaps the finest soil in the colony for potato growing, and nearly the whole of the crops is grown within a few miles of the sea-port, therefore they are independent of railway carriage. The growers are not, as most of you in Waikato are, landed proprietors, but pay £3 per acre rent; so you see they have drawbacks as well as* yourselves.—Mr Fisher : It finds the railway a good opportunity to cut against the Union Company. —Mr McKerrow : If we carried your potatoes for nothing it would not shut them out, and would only lower the prices in Auckland. If we lowered the rate in Waikato, we should also have to do it in other places which would bring new competitors into the field.—Mr Clark : We shall have to look to foreign markets to take our produce, and we must base our calculations on the cost of exporting. Not a fiftieth part of the land between Auckland and Lichfield ia being farmed, and if it was the Auckland market could not take a hundredth part of the produce. The rates on fencing and also on grain were discussed, but nothing definite was elicited.—Mr Allen stated that about two years ago, a Minister had said there was a special rate for grain that was for export.—Mr Hudson said there never bad been such a rate, and the Minister must have been mistaken. The deputation then thanked the Commissioner for the attention he hud given them and departed.