DIRECT STEAM SERVICE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 2

DIRECT STEAM SERVICE

WEIST ENGLAND PORTS. ■ j , DOCK ACCOMMODATION; Reporting on the direct steam service from New 7 Zealand to West Coast of England ports, the Noav Zealand Produce Commissioner says :■ — During the year the service of steamtrs sailing direct from New Zealand to the west coast ports in this country has been commenced. Most of the merchants in the centres served by these ports are very strongly in favour of direct steamship service with Ncav Zealand. The Chambers of Commerce there have been interesting themselves in the matter considerably, and substantial support has been given by them to help the development of. trade. It is to be hoped that hoav the service is commenced shippers in New Zealand will take advantage of it, and send sufficient and regular consignments forward, so that tlie new trade they have been anxious to secure may be thoroughly developed. Shippers ought not to be afraid of facing a probable . loss at the outset. They must naturally expect considerable opposition by many of those engaged in trade here to- defeat their purpose.’ Any' initial loss that may be sustained should be looked upon a-.s-.so much money spent in advertising. It is, as business men are aware, impossible to advertise and push any new enterprise without considerable initial expense. Unless New Zealand shippers are prepared to fight for themselves to secure the advantage which the vest coast service may bring (hem, the development: of trade through new channels in this country may he much retarded. As migut be expected in t he initiation of any now, large undertaking, the arrangements in connection Avith. the servioo have not been altogether satisfactory, and complaints on many occasions have been made concerning them. With increased support and the growth

of trade, however, many of the difficulties that have been noticeable probably will be removed. The amount or dock accommodation at the west coast ports is very considerable, and when new docks now under construction are completed there will be enormous space. At Bristol extensive work is being carried on for the enlargement of the Avonmouth Docks. There is large-cold-storage now available, and additional. accommodation for refrigerated cargo is to he erected when tlie. new dock is completed. At Cardiff, where the Bute Docks have now large accommodation, an additional new basin is being provided. Not only is there at that port large coldstorage provided by the Cardiff Coldstorage Company, but the Bute Docks have also a splendid cold-store, which so far has not contained a single carcase. Meat can be discharged into it direct from the ship which lies alongside, and railway trucks can be loaded from it under cover. There is only accommodation at present for thirty thousand carcases in this store, but it can be increased at any moment if necessary. At Barry, which is near to Cardiff,' there is also very extensive dockaccommodation, with a cold-store capable of- holding seventy thousand carcases. Additional accommodation can also if required here be provided. In Munch est e r th e d ock-acco mnl odat i on, which has hitherto been very considerable, is being largely increased, the ground formerly' occupied by the racecourse having been taken over by . the canal company, and excavated for docks with warehouses. At this port there are three large cold-air stores, having accommodation for- four hundred thousand carcases. In Liverpool and Glasgow the accommodation, both dock and-cold-store, as has repeatedly been reported by me, is fully ample for all requirements.