NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 16, 18 January 1913, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

__D THE PORT OF HULL. A PLEA FOR EAST OF ENGLAND TRADE. Mr Austin Wilson, trho 'was in Auckland a few days ago, in the course of his tour in the -interests of the port of Hull as an attractive centre of distribution for New Zealand trade in Britain, in a letter which he has forwarded to the Auckland Chamber of Conrmerce, pointout that Hull is the third port in. Great Britain, basing on the values of exports and imports. It is the gateway to the densely populated northern and midland counties off England, and serves an area carrying a population of 10 million people, the bulk of whom are within three hours' journel of the portHull has 10 docks, the largest having a water space of 53A acre*, with a uniform depth of 30 feet. A new dock to be opened this year will have a water space of 85 acres, with a depth of 42 feet. There are also deep water quays in addition to these enclosed docks. Ships can deliver direct into trucks or overside into barges. Fjve separate railway companies give a fast service from Hull to all parts of the country, and navigable riveTS and canals radiating inland from Hull serve one-sixth of the total area Of England. The cold stores of the port, which are on the dock quays, have capacity for 300.000 carcases of mutton. Ships can sling direct from their holds into the store, thus reducing handling to a minimum. Hull's charges on froisen meat as* compared with those of London are as follow: — Ex ship, Hull docks to railway trucks for direct forwarding, 2/10; ex ship, London docks, 9/5. Ex ship, Hull docks

Ito cold store, and including 28 days' free storage, 13/10; ex ship, London docks, 23/8. The average cost of forwarding meat from ex ship London docks* to 78 towns in the northern and midland eountires of England is £3 0/3, whereas the cost from Hull is £1 9/10. The wool charges are compared' as for* low:—Rail transit, including quay charges, on wool ex ship, London dock* to Bradford, 31/ per ton; from Liverpool docks, 22/, and from Hull docks 15/.