N.Z. PRODUCE AT HOME.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1483, 4 July 1912, Page 8

N.Z. PRODUCE AT HOME.

Jill. LYSXAH AT BKISTOI,. llr. \\\ 1). I.ysiiar, of Gisburne, who is at pre-.enl in England on a health ami holiday mission, was interviewed by a representative of the "Western Daily I'ress," the subjeet oL the interview being the prospects of iucicased trade belwecn Xew Zealand and the purl of Bristol. When asked for an opinion as to the port compared with others in England, j\lr. Lysimr intimated that he had no .hesitation in saying that when he inspected the port, with others in ilugland. in I'.HO, Avonciouth was one of 'the besl equipped, and was certainly head and shoulders above the Port of London in the matter of facilities. Since then the Docks Committee had largely incrca-ed the facilities for receiving and storing frozen produce, thus enabling the discharge of a full cargo of an average Xew Zealand boat if necessary.

The particular advantage of Avonmouth, in. Mr. Lysnar's eyes, lie? 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 whieli (he produce is sorted and stored. Very rapid hydraulic cranes provided on the upper iloors greatly accelerate- the discharge. The produce goes from the store immediately inlo the railway van or horsed van (which is under cover), and is dispatched. Asked for suggestions for bringing ab:>ut an increased trade between Bristol and Xew. 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 con'rol the sending of produce Trump. Mr. Lysnar declared that the advantages of Bristol's port are very liltle known in Xew Zealand, and he suggested tint steps should he taken by the' Decks Cuimnittro, and by Bristol merchants, to advertise its facilities and advantages av a distributing base for colonial produce. Tie aba suggested that m view of the expeditious manner in which cargees can be di-chargeil at and distributed from Avonmenth. the mercantile people in Bristol and in Xew Zealand should make joint ropresentatifuis to the" insurance conipe.nios asking for a eon-, cession on insurances. There is, Mr. Lysnar thinks, very small chance of legitimate damage being done to produce discharged at Bristol, as compared with some, other ports', and Vo is of opinion that.the insurance companies should reduce the premium on a general claim for damage, quite ,£2 per .£IOO on produce coining to Bristol, as that against that goinir. fir instance, to London. This on a full shipment of meat would represent a saving on 109.000 carcases of about .£2OOO in premium alone. Having discussed the matter with insurance men both on this side and in Xew Zealand, he was satisfied that his figures were near the mark, and he believed that the companies were prepared to do tlio fair thing.

Another suggestion which JTr. Lysnar made and emphasised the importance of was that the merchants in Bristol should establish reliable agencies for not only handling dairy nroduee, but. particularly dozen meat. There were, he said, good agencies so far as dairy produce was concerned, but lie. knew of none for frozen meat. / Xew Zealand, h.e concluded, had ben seething with discontent so far as the actual producers are concerned, as to the manner in which their produce is marketed on this side, and the naltry relurri- made for good .products. Unless New Zealanders got a" fair return for their products in this country. Ihev would be forced to find other 'channels through which to trade.