1904.] 



Railway Rates. 



73 



sufficiently meet the case. The rates are published by many of the 

 Companies in their passenger time tables as well as by promi- 

 nent posters at their stations, and by the issue of handbills and 

 pamphlets, and for the larger quantities in the public rate-books 

 at the stations. 



2. Aggregation of Mixed ConsigJiments. 



The principle of charging aggregated consignments is already 

 provided for by the Railway Companies, and they are quite 

 ready to afford such information and advice to intending 

 senders as will enable them to take full advantage of the lower 

 rates for large quantities, and of the arrangements that already 

 exist for the aggregation of mixed consignments. 



No doubt this information could be disseminated at the local 

 conferences referred to in paragraph 5 hereof, and the 

 opportunity would be then afforded of discussing with the 

 railway representatives any suggested modification of the 

 rates to enable the produce to be sent to suitable markets. 

 The Railway Companies feel that in very many cases it is not 

 their charges, but other charges and circumstances that are the 

 real impediment. 



3. Loss and Damage of Produce conveyed at Owner's Risk. 



Whilst the Railway Companies must maintain their legal 

 position in respect to traffic conveyed at the owner's risk, it is 

 their practice, in a friendly way, to consider on their merits any 

 cases of total loss, proved pilferage, or mis-delivery. 



4. Provision of Special Waggo/is, or Waggons sin table for 

 particular Classes of Traffic. 



It is understood that this refers to prize and other valuable 

 animals, and the Companies have already had, and still have, this 

 question under their consideration. The real difficulty is the 

 very fluctuating character of the traffic. 



The Companies are unaware of any difficulties in respect to 

 loading of the kind referred to> as they are able without 

 difficulty to load hay up to 30 cwt. per truck. 



