CORN EXCHANGE..

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4173, 5 September 1881, Page 4

CORN EXCHANGE..

An adjourned meeting of members of the Corn Kxchange and others intercated in the question of the charges for gooda on tho Canterbury railwaye waa held at the Corn Exohange on Saturday aftornoon ; preaent — Meaara T. Bruce (in the chair), Henderaon, Miles, Ferguson, Peryman, Gammack, Miln, Rennie, Herrick, Smethurat, M'Beath, Jenkins, Mcdcalfe, Hancock, and Captain . Willie. The Chairman, on bohalf of tho Committeo appointed at the previoua meeting, read tho following comparative tablo of charges for conveyance of sheep : — " Mr Hendoraon roports on tbe comparative charges of driving and bringing by rail :— " From Southbridgo to Chriatchurch, a distance of 32 miloa— To drive, by road, 300 ahe ep cssta £3 10a ; to bring same number by rail, £9 3s. "From ABhburton to Chriatchurch, 55 milea— To drive by road (including ld per head for the bridge), £6 sa ; by rail, £12 12a 9d. "From Aahburton to Ohriatchurch— Coat Mr Foraußon to drivo 15 head of cattle, £2 8a • woiild coat by rail, £5 10a 6d. " For 50 hoad, would have coat £3 3a ; to truck them, would coat £16 Ila 6d. " From Rangiora to Chriatehuroh, 21 milea —Coat to drivo by road, £2 2a 6d ; by rail, £7 10a." Theae figuros plainly showed tbat'.|if farmers uaed tho railways, thej would bo money out of pocket. Ho maintained tho railway tariff wan alnicat prohibitory. These figuros certainly ought to cause Govornment to roviso their charges, bo that tho railways might benofil tho country which paid for them. Ho then read tho following report on the com-

parative charges for carriage of grain on the Now Zealand and American lines : — Canterbury. America. Miles. Fer ton. b. d. a. d. From Ellesinera to Lyttelton 23 8 4 2 0 „ Timaru „ „ ... 106 18 6 7 6 „ Aahburton,, „ ... 61 H 3 2 3 „ Amberley „ „ ... 40 .11 2 211 He alao read tho following statement : — "Mr Bailey reports tbat fur a hotel now building at Templeton, the proprietor had contracted to have their building materials carted from Chriatchurch, instead of by rail (the buildiDg Ib within two chains of the railway station). Mr Bailey also states that he has carted most of hia grain to Ohristchurch, although he haa a abed dose to the Btation. (He formerly had a sidiug, bufc was deprived of it, because of the exceasive ratea charged by the railway over and above contractora' rates.)" Ho thought they should make a combined effort to induce Government to .remedy fcho present unsatisfactory etate of thinga. Captain Willis Baid the tariff waß one of the greatest possible drawbacks to the prosperity of tho Colony, which could compete wifch the world in growing grain if it had fair play. Government, by imposing this tariff, was ruining them. American farmers oould send grain from Red River to New York, a distance of 1500 milea, for ld l-16fch per ton per mile, and he had been assured, on good authority, that lid per ton per mile would \pay the railways here. It waa a great injustice that Canterbury should have to pay for non-produefcive railways in other parts of the Colony. The causo of tbe low rates charged on tbe American line wa3 the co-operation of the grangers, the result of the former high changes on fche lines. Borne time ago he had proposed to Mr Maxwell that during the alact aeaaon of the year farmers should be allowed to send their produce afc half rates in tho trucks which were being returned empty from the various stations to Christohurch, but of course the propoaal had been rejected. The Government really did not try to forco a trade. It almoataeemed aa if they wished to prohibit it. They Bhowed the same want of businesa oap>city in regard to tho passenger rates. He was not alluding to one particular Government, but to all of them. It would be for the good of the farmers to endeavour to gee both goods and passenger rates reduced. Mr Pery man said that 185,700 bushels of grain would be brought to the Elleßmere station. To take this to Lyttelton would cosfc £2297, or fco Christchurch £1799. He heard lately that ib had cost 8s to bring a parcel of gum seed 251 b in weight from Dunedin to Ohristchurch. Captain Willia said that a person had told him that he could bring his casks from Lyttelton, when they were full of water, for half the sum that he could when they wero empty. Mr Henderson said that he hod been advised to have a circular printed and cent round to those who uae the linea largely, ao aa to ascertain tbe quantity of stuff uctually aent by rail, aa compared with the quantity that would have been sent had the charges nofc been raised. Mr Rennio suggested that they should petition Government at once to lower the charges on stock. He believed that a profit could bo made on the carriage of grain in the United States at a cent (id) per ton per mile. The Chairman read a letter from Mr Mathias, apoloeising for non-attendance, and Btating that he was sure it would cost him less to drive his stock than to send them by rail. Some years ago a considerable number of stock wore sent by rail from Kirwee, bufc now hardly any were aent. The object of the Government seemed to be to make the railways look well on p>per, regardless of the Colony. Mr Bruco then wont on to apeak in aupport of Mr Henderson's suggestion. Ho thoughfc tbe only way to influence Government was by winging stafcemehta of facta and figureß to bear on them. Affcer Borne further discusßion, tho Chairman eaid he wished to draw attention to the misleading nature of the quotations aent from the London market, particular'y through Reuter's agency. Mr Henderson moved — " That a circular be printed, to bo Bent to all those who use the railways largely, to furnish particulars aa to the quantity of atock thafc would have beon sent by rail instead of by road, had the charges been more reasonable." After tbis information had been received, it would be well to petition Government on the matter. Mr Gammack would aecond bhe motion. Afc the same time, he thought they had almost sufficient information before thorn. After a desultory conversation, Mr Bateman pointed oufc that, though the Victorian and New South Wales linos had cost £14,000 per mile, as againat £8000 for fche New Zealand lines, the ratea were not only very muoh lower, the passenger ratea included, but the linea had paid a good profit. Mr M'Beath thought tho course proposed by the motion would cause a loss of time. He moved an amendment to the effect thafc a Committee should be formed to draw up a memorial to Government at once, tho Committee to consist of the Ohairman, Messrs Henderson, Rennie, Bateman, Gammack, and Peryman. Captain Willia Beconded the amendment. Mr Hancock gave some inatancea of the unfair chargea on tallow carried on the railways. He thought it would be well to have an agent of their own at Home to send out reliable telegrams as to quotations. The amendment waa carried on tho voices. It waa decided to adjourn the meeting to 2.30 p.m. on Saturday next to receive and adopt the memorial. The proceedinga then terminated.