FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13101, 14 June 1913, Page 4

FROZEN MEAT TRADE.

Mr W; D. Lysnar has addressed the j following letter to the Editor 'of the Wanganui Herald: — tSir, — Re Handling of Frozen- Meat m Bondon, my attention has been drawn to a statement made m your issue of the 6th inst., tothe effect that improvements are to be made* by the Port of London at the Royal Victoria and Albert Docks. L-est -ome of your readers should think that the efforts being made by the Bristol .md Dominion Producers' Association to divert our trade to the West Coast ports of Englajid would no longer be necessary m the face of these Lohdofi improvements being carried out, I think it advisable to write you m the matter. In the first place, I and others who are working with me, have learnt not to give fl.ny credence to promises made by the Port of London authorities. U,*er two years ago they made definite promises to the New Zealand Committee that, certain improvements should be made at their port. In fact, some time later a press cable was despatched from London stating that the work was being actually, undertaken, while as a matter of fact, I regret to say nothing whatever has been done from that day to this. Apart altogether from -whether the work will or will not be done, there is another very important aspect to this question, for it is the opinion of the New Zealand Producers' Association and others that even if the Port of London did" carry out the suggested improvements at the Victoria and Albert Docks, it will not relieve our trade from the most objectionable feature of the London business, i.e., avoid barging or protracted journeys by cart, 'because these improvements are being parried out at an unsuitable site. Further, the suggested improvements are also badly arranged, for the "store for frozen produce is situated some distance back from the sorting shed, separated from it by a main road and several lines of railway. "It is apparent that/ whatever , improvements are effected at this locality m London, it cannot and will not successfully compete against the splendid facilities of Bristol. We can to-day pLnce frozen meat on the, Smithfield market via Bristol after, paying 20s per ton railage, fid . . per ton cheaper* than it is possible to do!'! via.-,- the. Port Of ' London direct. <\. This is 'allowing owe '.week's storage at either place, .which is necessary. As further justification of my statement /that the suggested improvements at the Victoria DOcksi will be of no real value to' us, »T would quote the opinion of Mr Watt, Premier of Victoria) >who> according to a cable received 12th of last month .-from London, made a public statement m that city with re : ference to the present shipping facilities at the PorVof London >. m which he said "they «ire hopelessly' inadequate." - He then continued to say, "the London Port Authorities display a desire to improve ~tM Victoria- and Albert Dock for Australian- shipping, but no advantage would accrue from, the adoption of this course.. Again he said that he "advocates the development of new lines of trade to '■ Livei'pool, Hull, Bristol,' and Glasgow." Thus you will see, Mr Editor, that the Premier of Victoria endorses entirely the attitude of tho New Zealand Producers' Association, and m reality advocates the very' thing' 'that is suggested to be carried out by the above-mentioned proposed Bristol Association. . I have, therefore, every confidence m suggesting to your readers that they should not attach any particular value to the suggested improvements at the Victoria Dock London, but should co-operate m the proposed Bristol and Dominion Producers' Association,/ which will, ultimately, prove to be their only salvation. — I am, etc.. W. DOUGLAS* -LYSNAR.".