NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12826, 27 July 1912, Page 1 (Supplement)

NEW ZEALAND PRODUCE IN LONDON.

«*i BETTER FACILITIES PROMISED. PORT AUTHORITY'S UNDERTAKING. LONDON, June 13. A private meeting of gentlemen interested m the New Zealand meat and produce trade, called by the High Commissioner at the instigation of Mr Shelton, of the New Zealand Producers' Association, to consider certain matters connected with the discharge of meat m the Port uf London, was held at the offices of the association at Smithfield yesterday under the presidency .of Sir William Mall-Jones. Addressing the meeting Mr Shelton outlined the efforts he and others had made to secure improvements m the system of receiving; sorting, storage and delivery of meat on arrival; the results achieved thus fa*, aiid what might be secured by united effort. He pointed out that the South American meat trade, which is worked with a. large amount of co-operation among its members, has had provided for it complete facilities for naridlirig meat on arrival, and has got very good conveniences; '. Since lus arrival, ih London last year he had ■endeavored to ascertain wlnether similar facilities might be obtained for the trade, and for this .purpose had discussed the position fully with the men of all sections of the trade here, including the Port of London Authority, shipowners, and consignees, from all of whom he had received the kindest Attention, with admission of the fact that im- , proveraentg are ' urgently wanted, and promises of support , towards getting them effected. ! • , The Port of London Authority by letter dated October 04tb, 1911, definitely offered to provide all the accommodation that may be required by altering and equipping the 'South- west India Docks ffor the New Zealand meat trade, and the three shipping companies landing meat m London from New Zealand stated that if this' doc^ was made-suit-able for -their steamers they would discharge there. , . In this dock the most up-to-date facilities^ for receiving, , spirting, discharging, storing and delivering could be arranged for, so that the work could be don* with, the minimum of handling, deterioration, damage and expense. • Thia dock is connected by rail- with the great railway system of England, and a good open road for land cartage to London. It would also hare a large exit at the upper end, which would shorten the distance to up-tbwn stores by fully seven. miles, leaving a distance of only three miles between this dock and Blackmar s against ten from Albert and twelve from Victoria ■ Dock. ' The P.L.A., sa4d ]\IV Shelton,' had given it as their opinion that the Southwest India Dock; was the best site for Uie New Zealand .trade,, and this had been endorsed by others. But this offer of the P.D. A. , was riot available at present on account of .other works requiring first attention, whdch will take three years to complete.' ' ",' ... In . order to provide better accommodation^ witil the South Dock can be mad. available the Port of ' London Authority ? ■£?. & le^ r m December la»t to forthwith equip three .berths m the Victoria Dock with necessary appliances for handhng and sortiitf meat, and to insUl two warehouses alongside with refrieerahon^able of deafng with 100,00) to 300,000 carcases. „. The benefit of this, "Victoria proposal was that it could be. completed and made available by the ehd; of this present year and it appeared to. Air Shelton that by getting .the trade, uriited to accept this proposal, *h> landing of th* whole New Zealand meat would be concentrated at one spot, where better supervision can be maintained, and with proper appliances; expense and damage can be lessened. The whole of this accommodation could be' ready for use at the end of this ye^ and the site vras better than any "other at present arailable on which up-to-date methods for discharging,; sorting, storing, 'and delivering meat can be handled with economy .and . efficiency, v By accepting this offef of the P.L. A. . W provide better facilities for the New Zealand trade, they would at once ; receive decided advantages that could' not otherwise be obtained.' ! J'vy!. Since this Victorian scheme' was offered the, T.L:^.y^vvev<.;, u ud made a further' offer foi; accommodation m the Albert Docks, but "this, said Mr Shelton, did not appear t6» him desirable for the New Zealand tr&de. The accommodation proposed would' only allow two vessels to discharge alongside at one time, and this heing so, there would not be nearly as go<j>d facilities as at'th* Victoria Docks. . . . v In reply to his inquiry as to when the proposed ac«>ramoda#on at the Albert Docks would be available, the P.L.A. wrote that: "Shduld the authority sanction the scheme, it is probable that a portion of the sorting sheds could be ready m two years." ■ , The fact that the B.L:A. had decided to , erect, further conveniences at th* Albert Docks -was, Mr fiheitoh thought, a very satisfactory proof that they idealised .the want of proper facilities for the overseas meat trade. It was very much to the interests of ;the-. whole trade' that all meat should be Handled to the best advantage, but while/- they had th© op-, portunity it was desirable thet'th«y, for: New Zealand, should specially tak« advantage of the present offer. Mr Shellon continued .:" > ,■ "After receiving the offer from tha P.L.A. of December, -1911, i»f erring to the Victoria Docks, Invent to New Zealand to -consult with our Association, who, after, consideration, decided that they would, accept the* P.L.Ai's proposition, provided the' conveniences w»r» made available by the. end of this year, aiid that the South Do.ek scheme would be proceeded with as jsoon as it could be done. They, farther, agreed to do their utmost to gfit ■ the producers of New Zealand and. all interested to give this scheme their fullest support. . "Whilst I was m the I received from upwards' of; 250 of the leadini sheepfarmers, letters approving this scheme, and I explained the whole proposition to the various freezing companies and financial institutions there. They expressed great: satisfaction that improvements were -now being seriously considered m London, and they arranged to write to their J»ondon representatives, requesting that, the proposition should receive full assistance, prorided that .those' on the : spot did not know" of anything better that' could be done." Since his return to'Lpndon lie. had m: terviewed many connected with. the New Zealand trade, .and "had attended a meeting at.tho'P.L.A. last month, when-Lord Devqiiport igave his. fullest assurance • that the- proposal ..in f connection with ; the.., Albert Docks was m no way intended to take jluv place of the P.L.A.'s propositions of October and December, 1911', but that if the; Xfew Zealand trade 'assured' the P.L.A; that they wished these special conveniences to be provided .for the New Zealand trade, the promises made by the.' Port wouid be; fully carried out.,. Air iMielton 4 then asked those present, for suggestions, ,and moved the, following resolution : "That pending the. improvements pro]K>sed. by the Purt of Tjoridon Authority m the • South-west jridia' Dodke, oorr r elsftwhere, the proposition ,0f the • P.L.A. - to provide accommodation at the 1 Victoria Dock for New Zealand /produce and shippiug 'be • approved '/of , .without- extra charge .to consignees" or. shipowners using' same, and ttiat ; 'the .P.L.A. be requested to have same.carried. carried out and completed, if possible", by the end of '. this year, and that the ' Hi gh .Coromis'sioh^r for -New Zealand communicate this resolution to • the ' Port of London Authority.-" , ;V ■'.-./ . . .'. After considerable^dipoussion, the meeting decided to support, the proposal of the, Port of London , Authority, and get stores and accommpdation completed m the Albert Docks, as it was considered if the proposed alterations m. the Victoria Docks were urged the Port of'lxmdon Authority might delay the Albert Docks works.— N.Z.; Times corvespoii; dent. ■■•:•'•