SHIPMENT OF MEAT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15774, 15 March 1922, Page 9

SHIPMENT OF MEAT.

CONDITIONS AT LONDON. MULTIPLICITY OF MARKS. LONDON, Jan. 20.—1 f the proposed meat pool is to remedy the evil of collecting cargo for the same ship at widely separated ports, the shipping companies aill welcome its inauguration. Out of .ho most striking "examples of muit.iilicity of marks is supplied by the s.s. fainui at present unloading. This ve-sel wrought 9165 quarters of beef, split up ■ aider 703 different marks, thus making in average of 13 pieces per mark. Cue .)ill of lading covering 276 pieces, had B different marks ; another covering 268 had 52 marks; and, still worse, a third, ■ovoring 248 pieces, had 73 mark's. This s surely a record, and when it is conidered that probably not one farmer got '"1)3 sightest extra benefit from hav ng his produce specially branded the waste »f time and labor is obvious. .

As the Imperial Shipping Committee conducted its enquiry under the auspices of the Board of Trade, the Board Has addressed the shipping companies drawing their attention especially to paragraph 17 of the report, which sets out lie conditions in regard to loading and unloading, and multiplicity of marks. and suggests that shipping companies rid the shippers might advantageousiy ■o-operale. "The Board of Trade," I lie letter concludes, "desires me to ask whether you have any'observations to make in regard to tve possibilities of '.'fleeting such economies in connection with the shipment and discharge of •neat cargoes as are indicated in pa:ajrapli 17." The writer of the letter wplains that the object of the Board >< Trade in addressing the companies is o give any assistance that it may find lossible to ameliorate conditions at this •nd. Not a great deal of improvement in

•videnl in the matter of meat storage in London. Vessels are still being held up iwing to the lack of accommodation for •'rozen meat. On the other hand, there s a better clearance" direct to Smithfield ('or desirable quality. Consignees, howaver, .continue to show reluctance, in taking up documents, with the result 'hat, butter and cheese stored below the meat cargoes are held up, to the intense innoyance of To'oley Street merchant.

There is a story current that a certam 'mporter of New Zealand meat, rather than have his produce sent to an out-of-the-way store which the shipping comoany found, took his consignment into barges where it has remained for the Mast ten days, Fortunately, the tempeiature recently 'has not been much above freezing point, otherwise someone would 'ose.—N,Z. Herald.