The Telegram. — 1895-05-14 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

THE FARMERS AND THE RAILWAY  RATES.  MEETING AT YETMINSTEE.  On Wednesday evening, at the White Hart Hotel, a politic meeting was held to protest against the excessive charges of the Great Western Railway for conveying milk from Yetnianster to Paddington ; and, further, ,to consider the advisability of transferring the bathe t‘,. the South Western Railwsy at Slit:thorn, Mr. T. R. Pullman was in the chair, and amongst those present were Messrs. W. Swaine, A. Whittle, S. Jeffley, T. Chihli, E. I tootle, G. Loader, E. Mitchell, G. Salisbury, J. Peer, T. Ityall, J. Hollins ay, Tulk, &c. The CHAIRMAN said that their obj vet in coming together was to endeavour to get the G. W.R. charges for the conveyance of milk. &c., reduced, as the company acted unfairly to the dairy industry. lie cited the case of the Marston Creamery Co., who wrote to the , G.W.R. Co. asking them to reduce their rates, but nothing was done in the matter. The Creamery Co., although they were situated close to the G. W. H. station, as the rates were not reduced, conveyed their milk to Sherbonie, and had it sent on by Inc L. & S. W .R. W I let wa.s the result.? The G. W. R. asked why the milk was not sent on their line, and un being told the cause, offered to reduce their rates, but the Creamery Company said, "No ; they had been treated very fairly at Shertsirae, anti unless the G.W.R. made it worth their while to conic back they would not.' (Applause.) He (the chairman) sent his milk to Sherburne, and had it trebled by the S.W.IL, as he fool that it paid him. Those present must combine together against the G.W.R., and give them the upportuility once inure of reducing the rate before they (the farmers) took the matter in their own hands. They could form a little company, raise a little money, and purchase a trolley, and convey their milk to Sherborne. He was sure that it would pay in the lung run. He (the chairman) hail been in the habit of sending cider up the country, and he could send it cheaper by the S.W.R. around Templecombe than he could by the G.W.R. (A voice : "It is just the same with other things.") They did not want anything unfair: they only wanted justice. Now what were the rates I The L. & S.W.R. would convey 12 gallons of milk to London fur Is 11, whilst they would take it to Southampton or Portsmouth for Is. The U.W.R. would not take less than 12 gallons, and charged is 2d per imperial gallon for carriage to London. The S.W.R. would also make a reduction as the quantity of milk sent increased, whereas, the other company charged just the same, no matter what quantity was sent. If that was what they calted fair trade he (the chairman) did not see it. (Applause.) Mr. CRAbu then explamed that if they sent 20 churns of milk, each containing about 17 imperial gallium, it would cost £2 Os 6d, whilst ii they sent 17 churns mute they would send it for 2s 104 less. That lie considered was most unfair and hicunsiderate for those persons who only sent small quantities of milk. Now that dairy produce hail gone down lower than they lisol ever known it before, the G.W.R. pounced on them, but they were only cutting their own throats. (Applause.) Mr. Loapica was in favour of giving the G.W.R. one mole chance to reduce the rates, and if they did not do sU, to take miners into their own hands, as the chairman suggested. They could manage ii themselves very well, for they hail plenty of horses, and only wanted to purchase a conveyaiice. It made 74 a churn difference in the cost of carriage from Sherburne to London, as compared with the charge for couveyauce from Yetrimo ster to London ;. whilst if they scut their milk to South. ampton, it would be a difference of 9d. That would pay for the running of two horses to Sherburne. lit addition they would make more money for their milk, as the S.W.R. stathin was much more central.  At the request of Mr. Ss Lis HUH Y, a letter, which he received front a large Loudon milk firm, was read, and was to the effect that they were glad that steps were being taken in this matter, and they (the *liters) would be only too pleased to receive the milk by the S.W. tt. Mr. Giro. Loausa pointed out that it would lie a great loss to the G.W.R. if trade %as ttaniderred to Sherhorne, as the charges for carrying his milk alone to London was tl9O a year. . _ . .  The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Loader hail sent a petition to the G.W.H. with reference to the rates and after keeping him waiting for about 14 days he rereived a reply to tile effea that they could hot make any reduction in the rates. He (the chairman) then proposed that the G.W.E. be written to, informing them that if the rate, for the conveyance of milk and other dairy produce was liot reduced in a month, the milk would lie conveyed to Sherburne and forwarded by the L. &S.W. K. . .  Mr. blmiimr. seconded and it was carried unanimously. On the proposition of Mr. LOADER, seconded by Mr. MITCHELL, Mr. Pulimn was asked to write the letter, and the chairman said that he would be pleased to render them that little service. . .  The en AIRMAN proposed a vote of thank to Mr. Warr for the gratuitious use of the room for the holding of the nieeting.—Mr. Loaiiirit seconded, and it was carried. Mn. WARS said that he would he pleased to lend them the room if they required it at any future time. The meeting was then adjourned till the reply 5h.,t41.1 have hem rvceiv.,l front the U. W.l. when a definite decision as to what course the fanners would pursue would be arrived at..  The bookings of passengers between New York and London at the present time show an increase of 50 per cult. compared with those the same peri9d a year ago.  ()Apt. Newidrim Davies, commanding C Company rd Battalion Welsh Regiment, at Cardiff, o,nimitted suicide on Monday morning by shouting himself with a revolver.. On Tuesday night, a fire occurred in a chandler's shap in Emmet Street, Dubliii, and an old woman named Kehoe was burned to death before a rescue could be effected.