THE WHEAT TRADE,

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1375, 28 February 1912, Page 8

THE WHEAT TRADE,

SOME INTERESTING FEATURES,

The "Meat Trades Journal" received by tho last) mail contains particulars of tho paper read by Mr. M'Ciinn, Trado Commissioner for South Australia, before a meeting of tho Cold Storngo and Ico Association, London, on January ..!), and ifrom wliich we take tho following extracts :— Mr. C. F. G. M'Cann, in introducing tho subject of• his;paper, said:—l might state that my experience in cold storago dates back over a period of thirteen years, during which time I havo been connected with the Government Freezing Works of South Australia. My methods of treatment and the opinions which I am expressing herein on the various mntters connected with and appertaining to the cold storage industry generally, are entirely based upon my own practical experience, and it they, fail to coincide with the experiences or views held by my fellow members, here present, then I assume that tho object for which this paper was prepared—namely, to encourage discussion—has been achieved. Ono factor must always be considered, however, when those present with experience in English cold storage attempt to compare colonial methods, and that is the extreme disparity in the climatic conditions between the two countries.

Sites of Works. One of tho most perplexing questions yet faced in connection with the frozen ■produce trade is tho elimination to the greatest possible degree, wherever practicable, of excessive handling. In Australia, being as it is a country of immense distances, there has naturally always existed a disparity of opinion as to whether it were preferable to slaughter, grade, and freeze in the case of meat, and to cool down to the required temperature as regards other lines of produce, as near tho centre of production as possible; or to convey in the live or unprepared state, stock and products to a shipping centre, where /the goods could be prepared and accumulated, pending shipment. Both opinions havo their respective merits, but the shortness of the Australian meat season necessitates the building of works of large capacity. The high cost renders almost compulsory the erection of the works as near the seaboard or to a centre of population as is practicable, in order that an ice or local storage trade can bo secured during the period when meat is not available for export. The site chosen for the South Australian works, having a wharf frontage within 30ft. of the freezing works door, is such that from the time carcasses are dressed -by the slaughterer there is no necessity for further handling until the meat, frozen and bagged, slides down a chute into the-ship's sling. Unfortunately, however, the control of the Australian meat works manager ceases at the ship's sling. Every effort is made by Australian meat works owners to place their goods on board in perfect order and condition; but it is unfortunate that the same zealous care is not always shown in the handling of tho goods after they leave the works.. Ships.

Refrigerating engineers at tho port of loading in some cases, to safeguard their temperature, seldom remove more hatch covering than is sufficient to allow a clearanco of the sling of frozen meat. In consequence, unless. the sling is handled with the greatest care, it. is liable to strike either side of the hatch in its descent to the hold, with disastrous results . to thoso shanks which happen to be on the outside of tho sling. • After the arrival in London tho number of times that' carcasses are handled from the.breaking of bulk until ultimate delivery is, in the majority of cases, excessive; and, as I am sure this is as well known to you all as to myself, further comment seems unnecessary. The unfairness of tho position is that wo in South Australia do everything in our power to put our goods aboard ship in sound condition. In consequence, however, of tho insufficiency in London' of proper facilities for the handling and rapid conveyance to cold stores of frozen produce, we are forced to pay high rates of insurance due, in almost every instance, to claims arising through damage caused to our meat after it has been shipped, and when we have no control over it. Underwriters have classified steamship companies and chargo a differential rate for produce, according to the company conveying it. I have, howover, made inquiry wherever possiblo with the object of ascertaining whether or no some similar classification is made by underwriters regarding the produce shipped by the various freezing works in Australia. I havo been unable to find that any systematic classification is made,, andl do know that the products shipped from tho South Australian Works (which,, being on the Ocean Wharf, are unsurpassed fox facilities for shipping products direct from the- freezing chambers to the ship) havo to pay tlie highest insurance rates. It seems to me that if the undciwritors wish to reduce to tho lowest possible limit claims for damage they should recognise in their rates that works which deliver carcasses, etc., direct into ships, and are up-to-date in all their arrangements, deserve a considerable rebate, compared with thoso distant from the seaboard, and from which produce, of necessity, is subject to greater handling. A Leakage Somewhere.

Tho chairman said ho quite agreed that there should be a differential rate of insurance, but he pointed out that this was comparatively a new business, and he had no doubt that the insurance companies would in the near future adopt some such plan. At the same time ho could not help thinking that respecting a good many of tho claims which occurred when steamers containing carcasses arrived in this country was owing to the method of insuranco which existed at the present time. They probably were aware that insuranco was practically given from the spot where tho animals were killed to the time which wodld cover their disposal in London. Ho had had some considerable experience in this matter because he happened to bo tho vice-chairman of one of our largest protecting and indemnity associations which dealt with claims made by merchants and consignees, and in spitu of Mr. M'Cami's statement with regard to tho action of mates, he was convinced that owing to competition being so keen in Australia to get tho carcasses on board, mates did sign to tho ell'cct that carcasses had been received on board in good condition when nothing of tho kind had taken place. In consequence they had had some enormous claims—claims. amounting to .£30,000, .£-10,000, and even .£30,000 on one cargo—through tho goods not being shipped in a proper condition. In consequence of this they had sent a man out to Australia whose duty it wns to look after the shipment of these carcasses. What had been tho result? Sinco this man commenced his work not a single claim had been made. No 0110 could get over tho significance of this fact. lie quite believed that the people in Australia did, generally speaking, their level best to get the carcasses shipped in a sound condition, but somehow or other thero was a leakago somewhere. It was very rarely indeed that the steamers themselves did tho damage. The installation of refrigerating machinery on tho steamers was now as perfect as it could possibly ho made, and it was his opinion that tho claims to which he had referred could he largely reduced by tho insuranco companies not giving so wide a covering ns they did at tho present time. Ho' believed that tho insuranco companies would in a short time wako up to that position. He had more than once spoken.to underwriters on this subject, and they had agreed with him that the cover was too wide.