From Hugh Kirkpatrick, Sheep Farmer, Gimmerburn.

Your circular duly to hand re State Railways. My opinion is that the Railways should continue as at present, but that the scale of prices for freight should be considerably reduced in several instances. I have had goods brought from Dunback (50 miles) by waggon for less than the railways charged from Dunedin to Dunback, so when a waggoner can keep up a team of horses and waggon and carry cheaper than the State Railways, there must be a screw loose somewhere.