Low New Zealand Railway Freight Charges

From the Ton Mileage Return prepared in the Chief Accountant's office for last year's operations, it appears that the average cost throughout New Zealand of hauling one ton one mile by rail was less than 2½d. The figure, correct to two decimal places, was 2.31d.

In view of the great difference in density of traffic, this compares very favourably with that given for the French and German railways, viz., 2.20d.

The average distance goods were hauled ove our Railways was 61 miles, so that the average total charge for a ton weight of goods conveyed by train was only 11s. 9d.

This low figure shows further to how small an extent does the average railage charge affect the cost of commodities to the consumer.