THE TIMBER TRADE CONFERENCE. 53 



from the Continent, it would be cheaper for the merchant to 

 procure his raw material from places outside England, than to 

 attempt to buy within a fair distance of his mills or factory. This 

 applies to all lines having continental connections. 



Railway managers, he said, have often stated that they are 

 guided in fixing rates by such considerations as the following : — 

 I, Bulk as compared with weight. 2. Value. 3. What the traffic 

 will bear. With regard to the last of these, the writer heartily 

 concurs with him when he says, " It is well known to growers of 

 timber and merchants that, owing to the high through rates quoted 

 for native timber in its rough or partially manufactured state, 

 practically nothing is left to the growers after all charges are paid. 

 It is therefore necessary, in the general interest of the community, 

 to make such alterations in the present conditions of transit that 

 if more favourable terms are given to any one they should be 

 granted for the benefit of home products upon which revenue 

 has been obtained." He stated also that on the Continent a 

 system contrary to that pursued by the English companies is 

 in operation, more favourable rates being given for exported 

 than for imported timber, a rebate of 25 to 50 per cent, on the 

 rates being allowed when timber is sent abroad. 



To remedy the injustice of existing timber rates, Mr Hopton 

 suggested the adoption of equal mileage rates applicable to all 

 descriptions of unconverted timber, and that these rates should 

 be lower than those for manufactured or partially manufactured 

 wood. 



In the discussion which followed the reading of Mr Hopton's 

 paper, most of the speakers were agreed that it would be of in- 

 calculable value to all interested in the British timber industry if 

 the railway companies would fix a uniform mileage rate which 

 could be published in the rate book, in order that the cost of 

 transport between any two points could be accurately arrived at, 

 instead of the rates varying from every point as at present. 

 Several instances were quoted to show the absurdity of existing 

 rates. One gentleman gave the following example : — " For 

 English sawn timber I have one rate for 183 miles at 20s. lod. 

 per ton; then I have another rate for 199 miles at 15s. lod., 

 which is 5s. per ton less. So that they carry the stuff^ fourteen 

 miles further and charge 5s. less." 



In Scotland we find that similar conditions prevail, and an 

 owner having considerable quantities of timber to dispose of is 



