FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3017, 10 January 1912, Page 18

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

PORT OF LONDON PROPOSALS. NEW ZEALAND CLAIMS LNDER CONSIDERATION. (Feom o<;h Own Correspondent.) LONDON, November 24. Important proposals affecting tho handling of New Zealand frozen produce at tho London docks are made in the second annual report of tho Port of London Authority. The suggestions will naturally bo read with considerable interest in tire Dominion where there have not been wanting severe criticisms on tho methods now employed at the docks. The report states: —“Representations havo been made to the Authority by the agents of New Zealand agricultural and other organisations, who have been specially commissioned to visit England, that it is desirable to make certain improvments in tho facilities for the handling of frozen meat in tho Port of London. The principal points urged by tho representatives have been that large transit from the ship to the cold store should be abandoned in favour of tho quickest possible land route; that tho Authority’s store in Smithfield should be extended; that all meat should be discharged at once into a sorting shed instead of being sorted in the ship’s hold; and that tho dock of discharge for New Zealand vessels should he tho South West India Dock instead of the Royal Victoria and Albert Docks, as at present. As regards tho method of transit, it is tho Authority’s practice to use land conveyance for all moat entrusted to it except from Tilbury, where tho distance under present conditions makes the barge method the only practicable one, but the Authority has no power to control the movement of consignments housed at outside depots and wharves, where the river route is adopted. With tho object of extending its premises at Smithfield, the Authority for some time past has been negotiating with the City Corporation for a site immediately adjoining Smithfield market. Tho proposed sorting shed is the revival of a project considered by the dock companies some years ago, and then abandoned because neither shipowners nor merchants were prepared to pay for the accommodation. The Authority nas expressed its willingness to erect such sheds on receiving assurances that they will bo used on terms that will yield an adequate return on tho capital outlay. The most important point raised is that of the proposed transfer of tho New Zealand trade to the Soutli West India Dock, its original headquarters before the frozen moat trade assumed its present proportions. For the last 30 years this trade has had its principal depot at tho Victoria and Albert Docks, and it is realised that its removal to another dock involves serious considerations, entailing the navigation of large steamers a further distance of four miles up tho Thames. The Authority, much impressed by these representations and by the desirability of meeting them in a practical manner, lias decided in connection with its programme of new works and improvements to enlarge the scheme for the reconstruction of the South West India Dock by making the dock accessible to vessels of a length of 610 ft instead of 500 ft, and enabling vessels of a far larger tonnage than those now in the New Zealand trade to use this dock. Before, however, actually constructing the costly depots and their extensive railway equipment, the Authority will require to be satisfied that the proposed transfer of the frozen meat trade to this dock is acceptable to all tho interests concerned, and that, the necessary oulay will ho remunerative.” RECORD VOLUME OF TRADE. The report deals in detail with the trade of the port, which was tho highest on record. Tho total not tonnage of vessels entering and leaving with cargoes and in ballast from and to foreign countries and British possessions, and coastwise during tho year ended December 31, 1910. was 39,473,001 lons, as compared with 33,510,939 hns during the year 1909 —an increase of 862,012 tons. The net register tonnage of jhipping which entered and left the Port of London, and paid river tonnage dues.

during the 12 months ended March 31, 1911, was: Foreign, 19.656,193; coastwise, 9,739,443; total, 29,395,636; the increase for the year being 815,983 tons. The values of the total imports and exports (including coastwise goods) for the year were £560,390,903. Tho figures for Liverpool are £340.670,039, and then Hull comes third with £73,234,653—a big drop. The improvement in the import business, which forms the chief source of revenue at tho docks, has extended to most classes of goods dealt with. The greatest progress was shown in the frozen meat trade, where tho quantity increased from 138,022 tons to 215,445 tens. This increase is mainly due to the importations into the port of chilled beef by a new weekly line from the River Plato, for which the Authority has provided special accommodation in the Royal Albert Dock. The Authority has sanctioned the construction of the projected South Albert Dock. This dock will bo 4600 ft long, with an average width of 600 ft and ft depth of 38ft. The entrance lock will bo 800 ft long, 100 ft wide, and 45ft deep on sills. A dry clock will be provided of corresponding dimensions, and the preliminary estimate of cost of the works as approved amounts to £2,156,000. This dock, when completed, will ensure accommodation in the Port of London for tho largest class of shipping. The Authority has also authorised tho purchase of additional land for the projected new South Albert Dock, and also of land for a further dock, tho North Albert Dock.