FROZIN MEAT TRAINS ASSOCIATION

Otago Witness, Issue 2391, 28 December 1899, Page 30

FROZI N MEAT TRAINS ASSOCIATION

CONFERENCE WITH SHIPOWNERS. (Fitojr Our Own Corhespondknt.)

LONDON, November 18.

From the secretary of the Frozen Meat Trade Association I have received a report of the "proceedings at a conference of representatives of frozen meat companies and shipowners, held at the Shipping Exchange, Milliter street, receutly. Tha meeting was influentially attended, in fact, was attended by' practically all thot<e interested in the frozen meat trade.

The following were the proposals drawn up by the Frozen Meat Trade Association for ihe consideration of shipowners at this meeting : — Re discharge of frozen meat stsamers in London : (1) No discharge to be given on Saturday, excopt into Victoria Dock Store?; (2) in no case shall difchavg3 occupy more than 14- hours per hold in any one day; (3i the steamer to provide suitable protection (awnings, etc.) for the meat during discharge : sorting of the carcanes to be performed in the steamer's hold, not on the quay ; (4-) discharge of a steamer to be completed within 10 working days after breaking bul'c ; (5) in the summer months, say May to September, the discharge to be made during the night only ; (6) under no circumstances whatever shall consignees be compelled to take other marks than those specified in the bill, of lading. Sir. Montague Nelson, who presided, enlarged on tht proposals, but in the subsequent d's-fussioi> the question of marks appears to have taken the most prominent place, New Zealand representatives apparently attaching great importance lo this point. • Eventually a committee was formed representing tho shipping companies and the frozen rrent trade. At a meeting of this committee it was decided — " (1) That, with the view of facilitating discharge of frozen meat and jewelling the handling of the same, joint reprefsntations be made to the freezing companies engaged in the trade, pointing out that, in the opinion of this representative meeting, this can only be arrived at by difcontinuing the present system of marking and numbering the wrappers, and by adopting some less complicated system; (2) that shipowners and consignees of frozen meat in London be ahked to tupport mieh representations by communicating directly with their principals ia the colony*"