CARRIAGE OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10426, 26 April 1897, Page 6

CARRIAGE OF NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE.

IMPORTANT MEETING. [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT,] London, March 20. An important meeting, convened by the Agent-General for New Zealand, was held on the 9th inst., at the office of the New Zealand Shipping Company. Practically it wag a conference between the AgentGeneral, Mr. MacEwan, the dairy expert, Mr. Henry Gray, produce surveyor to the New Zealand Government, and Mr, Thomas Mackenzie, London manager of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association, on the one hand, and the representatives of the various shipping companies trading to New Zealand, and of the London bock Companies on the other. The special object was to consider the question of the carriage of New Zealand produce and its treatment on arrival. The shipping and dock companies were very influentially represented, those present being Mr. Temple, chairman of the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, Mr. Potter, general manager of the same company ; Mr. Johnson, director of the New Zealand Shipping Company; Mr. Strickland, manager of the same company; Sir Edwyn Dawes, Mr. Westray, Captain McCurdy, marine superintendent of the White Star line; Mr. A. R. Williams, chairman of the United Docks Association ; Captain Lawsou, Captain Badcock, and others connected with the shipping and dock interests. Mr. W. P. Reeves presided. Mr. MacEwan gave a most interesting account of his experiences and observations, and pointed out where be thought it was possible to improve matters in connection with the handling of produce at the port of discharge. A long discussion took place on all the details of the subject. Practically the net results of the conference may be summed up as consisting in a general agreement on the following points: —1. That the storage now available at the docks was not large enough. 2, That a sorting shed was not likely to be erected until arrangements were made with the filths which got their stuff direct into the lighters. 3. That there were only four absolutely insulated lighters on the river, and that these wore not much used. 4. That there were a number of partly insulated lighters, and that these were in much use. 5. That certain consignees are in the habit of leaving their consignments of produce in the shipping sheds for days and weeks after its arrival. 6. That the shipping companies are entirely powerless to prevent thin, although they would bo very glad to do so if they could. 7. That the best remedy would be an agreement to the effect that futuro bills of lading executed by consignors should give shipping companies power, in the event of produce not being removed within 24 hours after its arrival, to Btoro it in the cold stores at the Docks, at the expense of oithor tho consignors or the consignees. 8. That if producers wish to have their butter, while in course of its being carried by sea, kept at a temperature of 20deg. t025t10g., and their cheese ac4odeg. t045d0g., the shipping companies will have no difficulty whatever in complying with this wish, and would gladly do so. 9. That the shipping companies willingly undertake to do their best, when produce is left in tho shells to see that dairy produce and wool are placed as far apart as possible. This, they say, they generally do now, bub it is not always the case. Tho shipping companies are strongly in favour of the inspoctor of New Zealand moat being a servant of tho Government, and not of the freezing companies. Mr. Keevos esprostod his very strong concurrence in this opinion.