N.Z. MOAT IN LONDON.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1345, 24 January 1912, Page 8

N.Z. MOAT IN LONDON.

THE KTOKAGK .UCOMMUDATIUN POSITION'. Tlie' representative in London of I lie New Zealand Producers' Association, Mr. I'V J. Shelton, is linn back from London to-day ljy the strainer Tainui, In report. to Hip 'association the latest developments ill regard to (lie movement which h;n been on foot for some considerable time past in (he direction of securing licltev accommodation at Home for New Zealand frozen produce. During the course of. a brief conversation with .Mr. .1. tl. Wilson, chairman of Die. association.. , a representative of Tin-; Dominion was given some particulars yc.-ferdiiy concerning Mr. -Sbelton's mission. Attention was first drawn to the matter of (he handling of New Zealand produce in T.ondon by the N'ew Zealand (,'omniitlce in London, which inquired into the distribution of colonial produce. This comniitlee, assisted In- Messrs. Lysnar, M'llardy, Field, and others, found many things which seemed (o them un-satisfactory,-and in due coui'M! these were reported to New Zealand. The outcome was that an association was formed in Wellington, combining within its members representatives from the different provinces to try and-assist in getting Hie distribution of our produce placed on a proper fooling- After due inquiry the association thought the committee was right in stating that the- Victoria and Albert Docks were not altogether suitable if arrangements could be made fur more satisfactory docks. The Moment to Act. The Port of London Authority, having taken over the larger docks, announced I heir intention of spending a. large sum of money on t.lu- docks and bringing them lip to dale, nml the association felt that this was the moment at which active steps must be taken to impress on the authorities. the necessity for better accommodation for New Zealand al the West India Docks. Sixteen years ago the question •of (he erection of .« sorting-shed had come up, but nothing definite had been rlone. Naturally, said Mr. Wilson, the necessity for the erection of the sheds had increased iminciir-ely since the matter was first brought up. but still all. advances in this direction had failed. The reason that the sorting-shed was necessary was that small lots of frozen meat were continually going Home. At present the big companies and those exporting large numbers of sheep and lambs did their work well, and did not need the shed so much, as very likely the whole of their produce would go in one hold, but when it came to dealing with small lots of 200, IJOO, tir 501), and these got stored in. different parts of the hold, there was . great difficulty. They had to be sorted down below, and the result wn.s that the whole of the cargo might have to be turned over to get at one particular lot. With this going on with the hatches olf it was naturally a bad tiling and besides being generally unsatisfactory took time and expense. "To give one glaring example of this," said Mr. Wilson, "I need only instance one case-which was brought under our notice. M r e received the manifest of ouo steamer containing a lot of 111! carcasses and eight deliveries and sortings were required for this." In all the modern docks, continued Mr. Wilson, they have .sorting-sheds. In (he Liverpool dock they have one, and the meat is examined by inspectors, and is placed into vans under' cover. Southampton, Bristol, and Manchester each have sortingsheds also, and the meat being kept always under cover, no damage took place. Tu the most modern docks also the stores are alongside where the vessels discharge, and no extra handling was nccessarv. hi London, however, tho slows were up-town and the meat had to Ije conveyed a considerable distance to them, either up the river in barges, or along the narrow, crowded streets in carts. Our endeavour, added Mr. Wilson, i* tc secure for the smaller men properly equipped sorting accommodation and stores at the dock itself, and as near Smithficld market as possible; also if these stores can l>e connected witli the railway .system, the meat, can l)e fient all over Dnglaud without .having to be carted .up-town at all. The present storage in London consists of something like 2j* million carcasses, and the additional accommodation at the dock would not be more than is necessary. Still, if any shipper .desired his meat to be taken to Ihp uptown stores, there was -not the slightestreason why this should not; be done. The association, 1 - in its movement, did not tiesire to interfere with present trade in uny way, but what they did ask was that there should be combination at this end to get the best-accommodation and conditions that were possible. After going fully into the qialtcr they were convinced that the South-Wost India Docks were the most satisfactory that could be secured, and if the necessary combination, was given at this end it was hoped to secure this. "I am glad." said Mr- Wilson, "to see from re-cently-published. statements that Dr. Robinson is also impressed with the benefits to be derived from having the South-West India. Docks. Mr. Shelton, (he association's representative in London, who was due back by the Tainni, had mad*' careful inquiry into the dock accop'in'idatbil. and had watched. tho output of the meat closely at the different ports, and he also recommended that the South-West India Dock was the best in London for the purpose in view. Mr. Shelton had sought interviews with the chairman of the Port: Authority, and had placed the matter before that body. The association's information went to show, as Dr. Robinson had said, that the Port Authority would bo quite prepared to make such improvements a.s_ were necessary in order to discharge New Zealand cargo .at the SouthWest India .Docks, bill first they, must have some reasonable assurance that the docks would be used. We also understand,", added Mr. Wilson, "tint the shipping com-panies-offer no difficulties, and that if the South-West India Dock is made suitable (hey. will not object to their vessels discharging there. T would like In nientiSn." continued Mr. Wilson, "the fact that Mr. Shfilton received considerable assistance from Dr. Chappie. M.P., who was able to arrange certain interviews with Lord Devonnorl, and allow Mr. Shelton to urge the case of the producers and assure him that those in New Zealand were desirous of this change faking place.' Mr. Shelton's Other Work. In. addition lo devoting his attention (o .securing the above accommodation, Mr. Sshelton madn it bis business during his stay in London to- inquire 'into the conduct of -the meat trade generally, and as a result, of these inouirios he made various suggestions, including (he addition of another cover to the meat, also on the matter of pooling consignments. Besides this, he had experiments carricd out in regard to tho temperature at which the best results were obtained in thawing 'meat. The. crating of cheese and the question of bone-taint in beef also received his attention. As a. result of his investigalions in the latter direction, and the suggestions made by him. (be (rouble of bonetaint, which had censed loss to some ol' the freezing companies in the past, had been entirely eliminated. Latest advices received from Mr. Shellon imlie,-i.led that his- negotiations with the Port Authority were of a very hopeful character, but full details will" not be available until his full report bad been considered by the association.'