NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18172, 18 August 1922, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE

WEST ENGLAND TRADE.

CLAIMS OF CARDIFF.

ADVANTAGES OF PORT.

[from, our own correspondent.]

LONDON. July 7.

Not to be outdone by the people of other provincial ports, the leading business men of Cardiff have now organised vigorous propaganda to advertise the facilities and attractions of their port. Their development department has expressed its particular desire to develop a direct trade with New Zealand, and states that it is determined to let no obstacle prevent this accomplishment.

In communications from Mr. T. W. D. Smith, the development agent of Cardiff, he sets out some of the reasons why direct trade is desirable, and he gives details of the storage and dock accommodation. He points out that the frozen meat which is sent to South Wales by way of London has a tendency to soften, thus reaching the consumer not in prime condition. Further, the demurrage charges for detention of the steamer, the expensive handling charges to London, plus the rail transit thence to South Wales, have to bo passed on to the cost of the article, increasing the cost to the consumer.

All this, he says, could be avoided if such shipments were made direct to Cardiff, where cold storage accommodation exists to the extent of 1,152,000 cubic feet. The steamer could discharge its cargo right into the cold storage at the docksidc, whero it could be kept until wanted, and then transmitted either by rail direct from the cold storage through to any part of England or Wales, or by road-motor into the populous areas within easy reach of Cardiff. Population of Ten Millions. "Cardiff i s the recognised market-place lor South Wales," writes Mr. Smith, "and within a 30-mile radius there is a population of over 2,000,000, and within 90 miles a population of no less than 10,000,000. This vast community is engaged principally in industrial pursuits, and thereforo relies largely for sustenance upon imported foodstuffs. In fact, the people here, and in the surrounding rich trade territory, have unusual buying power, inasmuch as the consumption of meat, butter, cheese, fruit, etc., is greater per individual than in any other part of the country. Not only can Cardiff serve the mining valleys, but also Birmingham and the industrial areas lying immediately beyond tho coal valleys. " In the case of the district controlled by Cardiff, which has such an important consuming power, there is always a ready market, and if the consumer can receive the article direct and in prime condition, with a minimum of expense, the trade will naturally develop. Direct importa tion also benefits the producer, because tho importer, by handling a greater volume of trade, can sell at a fair price and at a smaller profit. Dock Facilities. " Comparing the Cardiff docks with London, the former has material advantages, because Cardiff docks are compact. This means that labour is reduced to a minimum, and therefore low dock dues prevail. The greater amount of trade which passes through the port, the greater the inducement to lower the charges, which at the present time compare most favourably with other ports. The Cardiff docks are now the property of the Great Western Railway Company, and imports can bo conveyed direct from the dockside with the same engine power. " Cardiff has another important advantage, inasmuch as ships discharging their cargoes there can always obtain return loads in the shape of coal cargo and bunkers, whereas if the ship discharges her foodstuffs at another port she will very probably have to come to Cardiff for coal, thereby incurring double dock dues in addition to loss of time. The water area of the Cardiff docks is 165 acres, the-dock quayage totals 35,080 ft., hoists and coaling cranes number 145, dry docks 12. Warehouse floor area is tqual to 900,000 sq. ft., with a storage capacity of about 100,000 tons."