Note 37 — SECTION X. NEW CLASSIFICATION.

Note.—The New Zealand correspondent of the “Economist” (Oct. 23, 1886), writes from Wellington as follows: “The fact of the railways being in the hands of Government is by no means an unmixed good. A uniform system of rates is demanded everywhere. If a concession is made to one district, the rest of the colony naturally demand to be placed on the same footing, so that the Railway Department rarely meet the wishes of the public. A private Company, if it found that the freight could be got by lowering the tariff on some particular item, would do so at once, and if it paid, continue it. The cost probably would be merely a few tons of coals, and a small amount for wear and tear. Many trades, notably the timber trade, are very much hampered by the Government tariff which does not admit of differential rates.”

This is a sample of the inconveniences attending uniformity.