FROZEN-MEAT TRADE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1374, 27 February 1912, Page 8

FROZEN-MEAT TRADE.

ACCOMMODATION AT THE LONDON DOCKS. '

PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION MOVEMENT. Although little has been heard of tho movement ■ to procuro better facilities for the handling of New Zealand frozen produco at tho London Docks .since the association's Home representative (Mr. F. J. Sheiton) presented his report, the j movement has been going steadily ahead. The chairman of the association, Mr. J. G. Wilson,-has recently issued a circular to producers asking their support. After summarising the position in regard to i the earlier negotiations between the. association and the l'ort of London Authority, Mr. Wilson says: "Alter several interviews between our Home representative and the chairman and officials of the Port of London Authority, the following proposal was stated in a letter from Mr. Phillipson, , general manager of the P.L.A. to Mr. Slielton on October 2' last:— "'The chairman (of the P.L.A.) Ims already expressed to you the desire .of the Authority to meet the requirements of the New Zealand meat trade in'the fullest method practicable, and aj an earnest of this desire, tho Authority has decided to alter the plans of (lie new South-West India Dock, making it available to vessels of GSO feet in length. This will allow vessels of a far larger size than those now employed in the ?<ew Zealand trade to use this dock. This Authority is also prepared to erect cold storage accommodation with sorting shjds at the South-West India Dock, but as intimated to you by tlie chairman, thsy must, before transferring the whole of their New Zealand meat trade to this dock, bo satisfied that the transfer is generally acceptable to all the interests concerned, and that the expenditure to bo incurred will be reasonably remunerative.' "After further interviews it was seen that this work could not bo gone on with for some time, and that in the meantime some temporary means of dealing properly with our produce must be provided. The question of sorting sheds where the various consignments from New Zealand could be properly handled, instead of bcinjj unnecessarily knocked about in the ship's holds 'as at present, has been for many years recognised as necessary for tho trade, both by those interested in tho business in London as well as those at.this end. All modern docks have such sorting sheds. The question of this temporary accommodation for unloading and distributing has been discussed at great length, and a proposal has been submitted by tho P.L.A. to provide the required accommodation at tho jetties in the Victoria Dock, where the New Zealand Shipping Company, and Tyser Company, at present unload. The Shaw-Savill Company unloads at the South-Eost end of the Albert Dock. It is proposed to utilise an unused jetty for that company's vessels in the Victoria Dock. The storage accommodation would be sufficient for about 150 to 200 thousand carcasses. Mr.' Sheiton , brought out this proposal and laid it before his principals, who thought that such a proposal might meet tho temporary requirements provided the main schemo was gone on with at the South-West India Dock. "Since his arrival, however,. Mr. Sheiton has received by cable from' Mr. Philipson a further alternative, viz.:—To utilise tho North-West corner of the Albert Dock with berthage provided for New Zealand steamers, cold stores aud sorting sheds with much larger dimensions than the other proposal, and from which locality it is claimed thero are better road and railway facilities. This is the point at which we have arrived at present. Meanwhile, the freezing companies of tho North Island arc, also considering tho question, aud. are dealing with it from their point of view. We are not informed whether the South Island companies have yet discussed the question, but representatives of each company have been in London, and ore no doubt acquainted with the position.

An Appeal to the Producers. "Wo are, however, addressing this to the producers of tlie Dominion who nro vitally interested in the question of securing better distribution of their meat. Whether they nro consignors or not, they can do much to help tins matter forivard. If proper accommodation and appliances are provided in London by the' P.L.A. (and this may also bo said to be in sight), we believe that the consignors will have their meat placed on the market under more favourable conditions, and thus there would be less disappointment as to returns. Consigning produce would, wo think, then be much more general, and it might conduce to the producer dealing with his fat stock much as he does now with his wool, whon he sends it on his own account to London for sale. If some assurance were given us by the producers that if this accommodation is provided by the P.L.A., they would do their utmost to have it utilised, it would strengthen our hands, and we feel sure would be the means of impressing oil the Authority tlie bona-fides of tho New Zealand producers in the matter. There are many others interested in tho trade, who, no doubt, are well aware of the position and aro discussing it from their own point of view. Besides tho New Zealand freezing companies, there are the buyers in the Dominion; the agents for Home firms who buy our produce; the buyers from London who purchase in tlie Dominion, and many others. There are, as is well known, some vested interests which will resist the proposal of the P.L.A., still wo too have vested interests in the trade. "It is evident, , from what we have stated, that the Authority proposes to listen to. the requests of those interested in the trade, and there is no fear of over-building cold storage in London. Modern requirements more and more, demand increased storage space. All the large butchers, and the largj stores, which do so much of the London provision trade have cold storage accommodation according to their requirements. The - shipping companies and the. freezing companies have done good work for the trade. Probably in no country in the world are thero such well equipped freezing works, more efficiently managed. They are our partners in the trade, but the producer in the end pays, he cannot pass on any expenditure, as the companies can, when it is forced upon them. Any damage to meat or other produce is borne by the producer, therefore ha ought to make'his voice heard when it conies to negotiations for the better carrying out of his business. We understand that if all interests unite with the P.L.A., improved accommodation for our produce will bo made available for use by the end of the present year." A form is enclosed with the circular which the producer is asked to sign aud return. It is pointed out that no question of guarantee has been raised in tho latest proposal, but that, if producers sign the form it would show tlie P.L.A. that the producers are aware of the efforts to properly deal with the trade are appreciated and will be taken advantage of. Tho signatures, the association pointed out, will enable tliein to assure the P.L.A. that the producers are in earnest in tho matter.