N.Z. PRODUCE AT HOME.

Waipa Post, Volume III, Issue 127, 12 July 1912, Page 4

N.Z. PRODUCE AT HOME.

MR LYSNAR AT BRISTOL. Mr W. D.Lvsnar, of Gisborne, who is at present in England on a health and holiday mission, was interviewed by a representative of the "Western Daily Press," the subject of the interview being the prospects of increased trade between New Zealand and the port of Bristol. When asked for an opinion as to the port compared with others in England, Mr Lysnaj- intimated that he-had no hesitation in saying that when he inspected the port, with others in England, in 1910, Avonmouth

was one of the best equipped, and was certainly head and shoulders above the Pert of London in the matter of facilities. Since then the Docks Committee had largely increased the facilities for receiving and storing frozen produce, thus enabling the discharge of a full cargo of an average New Zealand boat if necessary. The particular advantage of Avonmouth, in Mr Lysnar's eyes, lies chiefly in the fact, that the frozen produce is taken directly from the hold of the ship and discharged at the entrance to the cold chamber in which the produce is sorted and stored. Very rapid hydraulic cranes provided on the upper floors greatly accelerate the discharge. The produce goes from the store immediately into the railway van or horsed van (which is under cover), and is dispatched. Asked for suggestions for bringing about an increased trade between Bristol and New Zealand, Mr Lysnar acknowledged that the city had a splendid port, but no matter how much was spent on it, the port was of no use unless its existence and advantages are advertised and made known to the people who control the sending of produce Home.

Mr Lysner declared that the advantages of Bristol's port are very little known in New Zealand, and he suggested that steps should be taken by the Dock's Commitlee, and by Bristol merchants, to advertise .its facilities and advantages as a distributing base for colonial produce. He also suggested that in view of the expeditious manner in which cargoes can be discharged, at and distributed from Avonmouth, the mercantile people in Bristol and in New Zealand should make joint representations to the insurance companies asking for a concession on insurances. There is, Mr Lysner thinks, very small chance of ligitimate damage being clone to produce discharged at Bristol, as compared with some other ports, and he is of.opinion that the insurance • companies should reduce the premium on a general claim for damage, quite £2 per £IOO on produce coming to Bristol, as that against that going, for - instance, to London. This on a full shipment of meat would represent a saving on TOO, 030 carcases of about £2OOO in premium alone. Having discussed the matter with insurance men both on this side and in New Zealand, he was satisfied that his figures were near the mark, and he believed that the companies were prepared to do the fair thing. Another suggestion which Mr Lysner made and emphasised the importance of was that the merchants in Bristol should establish ieliable agencies for not. only handling dairy produce, but particularly frozen me it. There were, he said, good agencies so far ac dairy produce was concerned, but he knew of none for frozen meat.

New Zealand, he concluded, had been seething with discontent sj far as the actual producers are concerned, as to the manner in which their produce is marketed on this side, and the paltry returns macb for good products. Unless New Zealanders got a fair return for their products in this country, they would be forced to find other channels through which to trade.