NEW ZEALAND FROZEN MEAT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 16

NEW ZEALAND FROZEN MEAT.

LONDON, July 12. Kar.y n< xt year Dominion producers will ho able to learn personally from Mr -I. H. Ivstiil. Commercial Superintendent of tin . Port of London Authority, exactly what conditions exist at tlio London Docks for the handling of New Zealand produce. In the meantime I am able to give eomu interesting facts about the future extensions, as well as important figures bearing on tin- cost of bringing moat to the SmithfifcJd market through tin.' ports of London and Bri.stol. In regard to tire accommodation for housing refrigerated produce in the Port of London, there is at present accommodation in the Port for considerably over three million carcases, and wben th-. . Authority's new accommodation is orwti*d the total caoacity will be equal to 3,.'300,000 carcases. At present the Port Authority has cold storage accommodation for 820,000 carcases, while .additional accommodation, costing about £-100.000, has been introducod on th« following works: 1. Two insulated sorting sheds on the ouay at tlie Royal Albc-rt Dock, each 500 ft in length. These will be kept at the samp temperature as the insulated warehouse, viz., 15deg. Fahrenheit, so that they can be used as auxilinry stores if found desirable. They will have a storage capacity of 200,000 carcases. 2. An insulated warehouse at the rear of, and connected with, ' the sorting sheds, having a storage capacity of 250,000 carcases. Machinery will 'be fitted which will enable the meat to be conveyed from the ship's hold to tho sorting sheds or to the warehouse, or to conveyances with the minimum of handling. 3. An additional insulated warehouse at the Smithfield Market, having a storage capacity of 80,000 carcases. Tho construction of a new dock south of, and parallel to, the existing Royal Albert Dock, whero the bulk of the colonial produce is at present handled, was begun just a year ago, at tho cost of upwards of £2,000,000. Largo extensions to the Tilbury Docks are also being made, and considerable alterations and improvements to the other docks are in progress. So far as tho Port of London Authority is concerned, a very large proportion of the meat is at present worked by elevators from" the hold of the ship to endless belt conveyors which carry the meat under cover for delivery to—(a) The Authority's cold storago chambers on the dock quays; (b) insulated vans for conveyance to the Authority's cold storage chambers at West Smithfield Market; (c) insulated motor or horse vehicles which convey the meat from the ship direct to Smithiield Market; (d) insulated railway waggons alongside the steamer for direct delivery to the provinces. Many comments have been made in regard to barging meat in London, but it may be pointed out that if it is consigned to the care of the Port of London Authority no barging need bo done, as the meat handled by the Authority is passed direct over the quay. RAILWAY CHARGES FROM BRISTOL. Some of the New Zealand papers received in London lately give misleading compiirisons in regard tojtho charges for bringing meat in the Smithfield Market through the ports of London and Bristol. For instance, it is not stated that meat can be conveyed from the ship to Smithfield Market at a maximum cost of 14s 7d per ton. including port rates, wharfage, and loading, cartage, market tolls, and pitching, as against a minimum rate of 26s 9d per ton at owner's risk, and 27s 9d per ton at company's risk via Bristol. Even then, if railed from Bristol, the goods have to be sent in three-ton lots. The railway rate alone for smaller lots from Bristol to London is 33s 4d per ton, which includes cartage in London only. Further, anyone acquainted with the working of goods traffic over railways will appreciate that even meat cannot be conveyed a distance of about 200 miles without considerable delay. One must also take into consideration the question of re-insurance on the meat if landed at Bristol for sale at the Smitlifield Market. If meat is stored in London for 28 days and afterwards sold at the Smithfield Market, the cost will be from 25s 7d to 30s Id per ton. This includes the port rates, wharfage, loading, cartage, market tolls, and pitching —as against a rate for similar services, if sent via Bristol, of 37s 9d. Even the figure of 37s 9d makes no allowance for re-insurance. A very much higher rate would obtain if provision were made for reinsurance and extra railage for lots tinder three tons. Tfie rail rates from Bristol to London are:— At owner's risk, 20s per ton in threeton lots. At company's risk, 21s per ton in three-ton lots. At company's risk, 33s 4d per ton under three-ton lots. The capacity of the cold storage accommodation at Bristol is 134,000 carcases, and tho present cold storage accommodation in London is over 3,000,000, and will shortly bo 3,500,000 carcases. It must also bo borne in mind that London, with its population* of nearly eight million people within a ten-mile radius, constitutes a market where any quantity of meat can be consumed, while it must bo obvious that Bristol, with its population of under half a million, can only consume a very limited supply. Again, by reason of the nine trunk lines which radiate from London, and are all connected with the docks, tho distributing facilities at this port are obviously greatly superior to those at any other port.