In some instances, Sir B. Samuelson has not included in the foreign rates the charge for loading and unloading. Bar-iron is a case in point. In every other case he has omitted to include in those rates the charges for weighing, counting, labelling, booking, use of cranes, and advice of arrival of goods--all of which are authorised additional charges beyond the tariff rates. In this country, as is well known, such services are included in the collected and delivered railway rates.[118]
[117] The observation made in the report that the higher rates in Germany are avoided by the intervention of forwarding agents, who collect from small consignees, and make up the minimum load, charging somewhat higher rates than for 5 or 10 ton lots, shows that it was seen that, although the comparison of British rates is made with them, the general public cannot obtain the advantage of the low rates, because of the heavy minimum quantities.
[118] The following are the charges authorised to be made for such services in addition to the mileage rate and terminals in Germany, Holland, and Belgium:--
---------------+---------------------+------------------+-------------- | GERMANY. | HOLLAND. | BELGIUM. ---------------+---------------------+------------------+-------------- { | 1·2d. per 20 pieces.| | { | 1s. 0d. per truck | | Counting { | minimum. | 0·2d. per packge.| 1d. per ton. { | 3s. 0d. per truck | | { | maximum. | | | | | { | Stückgut 0·6d. per | | { | 2 cwt. | | Weighing { | Wagon Loads 0·48d. | from 0·2d. to | 5d. per ton. { | per 2 cwt. if each | 0·6d. per 2 cwt. | { | piece is weighed | | { | separately; 1s.0d. | | { | per truck. | | | | | Booking | ... | ... | 2d. per con- | | | signment. | | | Labelling | 0·6d. per piece. | 0·6d. per packge.| 2d. | | | Stamping | ... | 1·2d. each note. | ... | | | Use of Cranes | 0·36d. per 2 cwt. | 10d. to 1s. 8d. | 3d. per ton. | 9d. minimum. | per ton. | | | | Advice of Goods| About ½d. | 1d. | 1d. | | | Tarpaulins | 2s. 0d. each. | 2s. 8d. each. | 1s. 7d. each. | | | Disinfecting | 1s. per truck. | 1s. per truck. | 1s. per truck ---------------+---------------------+------------------+--------------
Such are some examples of the errors vitiating the comparison. We have by no means exhausted them; they might be greatly multiplied. It is not intended to suggest that Sir B. Samuelson has been more inaccurate than other critics. On the contrary, his report, notwithstanding its inaccuracies, shows that a considerable amount of labour has been expended in endeavouring to obtain the information. It is a favourable specimen of such criticisms, and for this reason it is deserving of notice. It is, of course, difficult for any person, even when practically acquainted with railway business, to appreciate the practical effect of the different conditions under which traffic is carried on Foreign and English railways. It is not surprising that Sir B. Samuelson has evidently not become fully acquainted with all the conditions of carriage, or that he has omitted to give them their proper value in the tables which he has prepared. Unfortunately, owing to the omissions, the conclusions which he draws are, in some cases, erroneous, and in others misleading.