42 



Eailway Eates and Agriculture. 



[Apr., 



of the rate, his traffic will continue to be charged at such rate, provided 

 that such rate is not less than 5 per cent, below the Standard Bate; 

 provided also that if such rate is more than 40 per cent, below the 

 Standard Rate the rate shall, before the appointed day, be referred to the 

 Rates Tribunal, and, if so referred, shall continue until the Tribunal have 

 determined the matter. If the Railway Company refuse to agree, the 

 Secretajy of the Railway Company should be notified in writing by the 

 trader that he desires his exceptional rate to be continued and that he 

 requires that the matter be referred to the Rates Tribunal. If this course 

 is taken the exceptional rate will continue until determined by the Rates 

 Tribunal and the onus of proving that it ought to be altered or ought not 

 to continue will be upon the Railway Company. 



(ii) No rate which has not been applied to the charging of 

 merchandise actually forwarded within two years preceding the 1st day 

 of January, 1923, shall be continued unless the trader can prove to the 

 satisfaction of the Railway Company or Tribunal that its non-application 

 is due to abnormal condition of trade, or that a rate of equal amount to 

 the same station is in operation from some other place in the same group, 



(iii) After the appointed day new exceptional rates may be granted by 

 a Railway Company provided they are not less than 5 per cent, and not 

 more than 40 per cent, below the Standard Rate chargeable and subject 

 to the Railway Comipany reporting the rate to the Minister of Transport. 



(iv) After the appointed day no new exceptional rate may be granted 

 by a Railway Company which is less than 5 per cent, or more than 40 per 

 cent, below the Standard Charge applicable unless the sanction of the 

 Rates Tribunal is first obtained. 



(v) If a Railway Company refuses to grant a new exceptional rate 

 any trader may at any time apply to the Tribunal and the Tribunal may 

 grant whatever rate it thinks fit. 



15. (i) It will thus be seen that those interested in agri- 

 caitural rates should examine the schedules of Standard Eates 

 referred to in paragTaph 13 hereof with the greatest care as 

 soon as they are published and lay any objections they may have 

 before the Eates Tribunal in the manner and within the time 

 that will be specified when such schedules are published, and 

 take steps to appear before the Eates Tribunal when the 

 schedules are considered so that their rates may be fixed on an 

 equitable basis. 



(ii) The Standard Eates as finally settled will be pubhshed 

 and notice given of the day when they will come into force. 

 The Eates so settled will have to be carefully examined, and in 

 cases where the existing exceptional Eate applicable to any 

 particular traffic is 5 per cent, or more below the appropriate 

 Standard Eate, and where any hardship would result from the 

 cancellation of such exceptional rate, the Eailway Company 

 should be approached with a view to continuing such excep- 

 tional rate under the provisions referred to in paragraph 14 (i). 



