CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910 — Page 25

[This Document is the Property of His Britanni -

AFFAIRS OF CHINA,

CONFIDENTIAL.

[46142]

No. 1.

[December 20.]

SECTION 4.

(No. 341.) Sir,

Sir C. MacDonald to Sir Edward Grey,-(Received December 20.)

Tokyo, December 2, 1909.

I HAVE the honour to enclose a copy of the new baggage and freight rates of the South Manchurian Railway Company, which I have received from the acting British vice-consul at Dairen. These rates came into force last month.

A copy of a memorandum by Mr. Gordon is enclosed also, showing the principal points of difference between the new rates and those previously in force. The latter formed an enclosure in my despatch No. 156 of the 19th June, 1908.

I am informed by Mr. Gordon that the new rates excited considerable opposition when first published, and that various modifications had to be made until they reached their present form.

Copies of the enclosures in this despatch have been forwarded to His Majesty's Minister at Peking.

I have, &c.

CLAUDE M. MAÇDONALD,

Inclosure in No. 1.

Memorandum by Acting Vice-Consul Gordon.

THE new freight rates of the South Manchuria Railway Company show considerable alterations as compared with those published in July 1908. Generally speaking, there is a reduction all round, and the tendency of the company to gather everything into its own hands is shown by the abolition of the rebate system, and the forwarding business being undertaken by the company itself. Newchwang obtains further relief, and rates to and from that port are cheaper than to and from Dairen as far as Kungchuling (399 miles), whereas from Tiebling (2924 miles) and beyond they were equal. The principal alterations made are as follows:-

1. Abolition of Chinese weights and substitution of Japanese weights. the similarity of these two systems the alteration is more apparent than real.

Owing to

2. Alteration in extra charges for heavy goods. The former rates were: Articles over 18 feet in length, or weighing singly more than 3 tons, 20 per cent.; over 30 feet in length, or weighing singly more than 5 tons, 50

per cent.

Over 3 tons per piece

6

31

10

**

**

15

25

51

» 20

3

The new rates are-

l'er cent.

20

30

40

50

by special arrangement.

while as regards the size of articles, 50 per cent, is charged on those over 21 feet and under 33 feet, the rates on articles over the latter figure being by special arrrangement.

3. With the undertaking of the forwarding business by the company itself, new charges are fixed for loading and unloading at the terminal points, and fees taken for such goods as may be sent on the "cash on delivery "system.

4. The demurrage rates are altered and made slightly cheaper, being 30 sen per ton for every twelve hours as against 70 sen per ton for every twenty-four hours.

5. New regulations have been issued regarding the value of goods, and the company will undertake responsibility to a certain extent. The charges are 10 sen per 100 yen, the minimum being 1 yen.

6. Formerly goods of any class were accepted by the car-load, but as the company is itself undertaking the forwarding business, first class goods will be accepted only by the "kin" rates.

[2548 u-4]

* Not printed.

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