HUNGARIAN ZONE SYSTEM.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2966, 18 July 1891, Page 2

HUNGARIAN ZONE SYSTEM.

TO TIIH EDITOR. Sir,—A very interesting paper was presented to both H imes of Parliament in England last April respecting the Zone Tariff for goods and passenger traffic in Hungary. As it may possibly interest some of of your readers, 1 will quote what is most likely to interest them. From Buda Best Sir A. Nicolson in his memorandum writes: —

"Tho conditions existing in Hungary may bo shoitly stand to bo a large tract of country whore di-tmces are great, where the population is relatively sparse and not animated with a restless desire of movemsnt, where the motive* which induce peipleto travel, for business or pleasure, wore not so imperative as to compel them to do so irrespective of cost, and where the trains were running half empty. The public showed little disposition to take advantage of the railways, and while it was estimated tiiar. in Austria each individual made two, in Germany live, in (Jreat Britain fifteen, the average in Hungary was not so much as one annual journey per head. From August 1, 1888 to duly 31st, 18S!), 5,(584,84") tickets wore issued, whilst from August 1, 188'.l (when the Zone Tariff was introduced) to July 31st, 18110, 13,-15(5.312 tickets were issued. '

In another memorandum dealing with the goods tariff he writes : — "The Minister of Commerce, Mr Bamss, encouraged by the success of his Zone 'Tariff for passengers has now elaborated a tariff for goods traffic on the State railways of Hungary which is intended by a considerable reduction and simplification of rates t.i stimulate and facilitate this branch of milway activity. As Hungary is a country in which tho production of raw materials plays the chief part, the goods to be transported are generally of a bulky nature. The Minister (Mr Baross) in a short oxposition of his scheme, stated that articles of subsistence would be carried to the markets at rates far more moderate than had hitherto prevailed, while tho rates for goods intended for export would also be dimiuished ; moreover, coal, iron, artificial manures, etc., would bo transported to the most extreme limits of tho country without the cost of transport rendering their disposal in the market a matter of difficulty, as had hithcito been the case. Far greater facilities are given to goods sent by waggon loads." The following table will show the cost of transp >rtiug tho waggon load classes So' miles, per 200lbs. : — s. d. Class A ... 0 !) -l-nths Class B ... 0 li2-st!is Class C ■•■ 0 al-sth Special tariff I. : Corn ... 0 8 1-oth Exceptional tariff I. : Coal, wood, potatoes, hay, straw, lime .. 0 4 1-oth Exceptional tariff 2 : Manures of all kinds, oarth, stones, minerals 0 3 3-sths By the above table it will seen that tho Hungarian Minister of Commerce recognises tho importance of transporting manures at a low charge. At the above rate it would cost about 3s -Id a ton for a truck load of manure from Auckland to Hamilton. Tho neiv goods tariff was to have been introduced ou the Ist January. 1801, bo we may soon hear if it is a success, —Yours truly, B. Hkwk.tt.