PORT NELSON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 3 June 1930, Page 4

PORT NELSON

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS SUPPORT FROM CHAMBER OF:: COMMERCE , At a meeting of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce last evening a reply was. read from the Nelson Harbour Board to the effect that the question of wharfage extension and coal storage had been,deferred pending a conference between the Board and fruitgrowers., (The conference was held last week.) The letter opened a discussion on the question of shed accommodation. '<; Mr C. Milner said that he had noticed in the report of the proceedings of the conference that the chairman of the Board (Mr H. R. Duncan) had mentioned the desirableness of conferring with, representatives of the fruitgrowers 'and of the business community concerning the matter. If this! was so, continued., the speaker, he would 'say he • was strongly against the erection of a cool store at Nelson. ; He made this statement at the "risk of bringing about! his head a swarm of refrigerating engineers;, but he had been informed on good; authority from Australia that it was I not necessary to pre-cool fruit at all. Otago did not pre r cool and its fruit; carried just as,?welLas Nelson's. The pre-cbpl-ing that had been done at Nelson was. something like a joke. Some of the fruit pre-cooled was put on board fat a.higher temperature than that taken from the wharf. He considered that a suitable shed would meet all requirements. • "■' ■' ' ;' Mr E. H. Thomson said he : did (not know how Mr Milner.. Would ideal with large quantities, 'of ■', -'fruit.' He -would \ like to know exactly what storage would ■be required ; for say half-a-million cases of fruit, He was surprised to hear that Mr -Milner was not in favour of a cool store, but no doubt' he had good grounds for his statements

: ! TVIr Duncan said that it appeared that : the consensus of opinion among fruit-':; growers and experts: was that" pre-copl-iiig was necessary. A difference of'opin.-. ion over the matter was one point that had made the Board hesitate before doing anything in regard to additional storage. He considered it highly advisable for the Board to confer, with business men and the fruitgrowers. Something must be done before next, season", but whether a refrigerating store should be erected was a question to <be consid* ered. Mr Duncan said the harbourmas?; . ter had stated that he thought if the ' cut was deepened this would meet the requirements. But dredging" in the cut was a problem facing the;Board,. owing to tho strong current.' the whole question would ,be discussed by the Board on Wednesday. He could as; sure the Chamber that the Board would be glad to .meet its representatives; ■'; The 'Hon. W. W. Shodgrass said he had heard a good deal through. Austraf lian channels regarding export and he was of the same opinion as Mr Milner. He considered the pre-cooling;, idea should be cast, aside. If any precoolin!> was necessary it should: be done at .Wellington. * . _. ;'; Mr,Duncan remarked that a point; had been made at the recent conference' with growers that if, pre-cooling was; 'Xtaie iib Nekcn it might allow the port to be made the of call. .'.;.- .; Mr Milner then moved that" the Chamber- would gladly co-operate with the Harbour <i< ard and others in endeavouring* to provide sufficient- storage at the* Nejson wharves to enable direct shipriihnts tp be made,. ... ',-■■ ... . ..)„':-= !.*?*.■"' Mr Thomson ' y ; seconded the "motion 1 / which was carried. .