WEST OF ENGLAND TRADE

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 143, 19 June 1922, Page 8

WEST OF ENGLAND TRADE

— — —'•■ ■ " '■ I — MANCHESTER OUT FOR BUSINESS. One of the results of the war was that some ships with cargoes from Australia and New Zealand consigned to London or Liverpool had to be diverted to Manchester. The experience thus gained led Manchester business men to believe that there was a great opportunity for extension of the trade of that port, and it was determined to open up a direct shipment business from Australia and New Zealand through the ship canal to that city. During the war warehouses and fireproof safes were built to accommodate the goods diverted from London and Liverpool. Wool, frozen meat, hides, tallow, fruit, and dairy produce are all wanted in Manchester. Hitherto practically all these lines were sent to London, and only slowly and expensively found their way to the industri:'. areas in the north of England. The importance of this market may be judged by the fact that within easy transport distance of Manchester, not more than two hours by rail, are over ten millions of people who renuire the foodstuffs that Australia and New Zealand can supply. The advantage of direct shipment to Manchester should bene6t the producer by cheapening his product to the consumer, without lessenin? the price he gets for his goods. This will be due to eliminatiitr the transit costs from London to the North of England, and lower prices to the consumer inevitably results in an increased demand. WOOL FOR BRADFORD. One great advantage of direct shipment to Manchester is the nearness of the city of Bradford, the great centre of the English woollen industry. Bradford is only 43 miles from Manchester. The route from London to Bradford by which the wool was carried prior to the war is 100 miles longer, and the cost much dearer. In 1916 a ship at sea laden with wool was barred from London owing to congestion at that port, and was directed to Manchester. This led to the business men of the north wanting to know why their wool should have to come via London at all. TRAFFORD PARK. Twenty years ago Trafford Park, outside Manchester, was green fields, the (home of pheasants and deer! Now it is I a busy industrial centre linked by rail- ! way with- the Ship Canal, and all the i big lines of England. One of the elevators is capable of storing 40,000 tons of grain, and has appliances for discharging vessels at the rate of 1200 tons per hour, the sacks being carried on band conveyers running underneath the quays. One big warehouse at the preI sent time is storinsr about £4,000,000 j worth of German dyes, part of the rej paration payment. i OVERSEA VISITORS. On April 25 a number of distinguished I visitors, mostly business men from Australia and New Zealand, were entertained at Manchester, shown tho port facilities, and then inspected the warehouses and factories at the compara- ! tively new industrial centre on the I Trafford Park Estate. Amongst those [.present were: Sir James Mitchell (Prime 'Minister) and 9ir James Connolly (Agent-General), of Western Australia; Mr. John MeWhae (Agent-General), of Victoria); Sir Drummond Fraser and J'Mr. J. W. Ferguson, New South Wales: ; Sir James A. Cooper, Messrs. A. K. Trethaven, J. T. Pope, and A. B. Gough, representing Oversea Farmers' Co-opera-tive Produce Association: Mr. George •Bowden, Union of South Africa: Sir ! Alfred Yeo, M.P.; and Mr. A. L. Hampton, National Bank of New Zealand. | DIRECT SHIPS TO NEW ZEALAND. j The ill-fated Wiltshire was one of the direct ships running between Manchester and the four leading New Zealand | ports. She had telescope masts, to I enable her to pass under the bridges in the ship canal. The Port of Manchester Warehousemen, Limited have appointed i representatives in New Zealand to ship I produce by these direct steamers. Tha result should be to open up a big practi|cally new market for New Zealand projduce in the North of England. In order to have everything in full swing for next season Mr. A. S. Pacey. who is j organising affairs here on behalf of the jPort of Manchester Warehousemen, | Limited, will, during July and AugustI visit the various dairying centres to point out the advantaees of this new outlet for produce. Within the last few months a company named the Manchester Consignments, Limited, has been formed to assist direct trading by taking up the documents of reliable shippers in Australia and New Zealand, and making advances upon car?oe= destined for the Ship Canal. It will he evident that with London and Manchester competing for New Zealand produce tha result must be to benefit farmers at thia end.