Meat-Loading Gear For Lyttelton “Essential”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30536, 3 September 1964, Page 9

Meat-Loading Gear For Lyttelton “Essential”

Freezing companies did not favour the use of containers for loading frozen meat at Lyttelton or the provision of cool store facilities at the port, the chairman (Mr A. A. Macfarlane) reported to the Lyttelton Harbour Board yesterday. If the board decided to install mechanical meat-loading equipment, the freezing companies wanted a type similar to that at Bluff or that being installed at Timaru.

The companies were happy with the method of getting the meat to the wharves, but wanted a better method of getting it into the ships, Mr Macfarlane said. Heads of firms from Britain did not like to see the meat going into ships in slings.

“It will be absolutely essential to have some form of conveyer system in the future/’ he said. To Mr W. P. Glue, he said the shipping companies “would not play at all” on loading through the ship’s side. “What happens now?” asked Mr L. G. Amos. “Are we going to find a port like Timaru away ahead of us? Now is the time for action, otherwise we will find a nice big pigeon-hole and we will be left behind.” He favoured a sub-commit-tee to formulate a programme for the installation of equipment.

The stevedores who controlled the handling of meat might be able to contribute something of value, and he would like them to be consulted, said Mr F. I. Sutton. The board agreed to ap-

point a sub-committee to report on meat loading. The Lyttelton Waterfront Workers’ Union wrote that it did not agree with container loading of meat. It considered that the board should install mechanical equipment, and if possible for all-weather loading.