HANDLING PRODUCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16486, 27 February 1914, Page 11

HANDLING PRODUCE.

NEW ZEALAND GOODS IN LONDON.

WORK OF THE PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY. Mr J. H. Estill, the commercial superintendent of the Port of London Authority, who has come to New Zealand to see merchants and others in regard to tho handling of produce in London, arrived in Christchurch yesterday morning. He will spend about ten days in tho city, and to-day will give an address before the Chamber of Commerce. In an interview yesterday, Mr Estill said that his mission was to acquaint tho people of the dominion with the large sums of money which tho Port of London Authority was spending in order to provide facilities for the handling of produce. The Authority, ho explained, was the successor to the old London Dock Companies, which formerly were worked under separate control. Each company fought all the others, and, between them, there was a danger of the port getting behind the times. The Authority camo into existence about four years ago. Already it had made great strides in bringing the port up-to-date. Its present programme provided for an expenditure. of £14,000,000, a large part of which would be used in providing now facilities for handling Australasian produce. It would spend nearly £500,000 on tho meat trade alone. New sorting sheds and cold stores were being built, and also a new dock parallel to the present Royal Albert Dock, at a cost of £2,000,000. The new dock would be largely used for the colonial trade.

The idea of the sorting sheds was that, instead of the meat being sorted in the hold of a steamer, it would be sorted in the sheds. Consequently, the discharging would be expedited, much handling would be avoided, and the meat would not come in contact with tlio atmosphere. ' Two sorting sheds, were being built, each 500 ft long. They would bo insulated to 15deg. Fahr., the same temperature as in the steamers’ holds. Meat would bo worked from tlio steamer to the sorting sheds and from the sheds to the cold stores adjacent, by electric elevators and endless band conveyors. The cold store would have a capacity equal to 250,000 sheep. Another cold 6tore was being built at Smithfield capable of holding 80,000 sheep. It had rieen stated that meat could be worked through other ports to Smithfield cheaper than through London, but that was not correct.

Speaking of the Port of London Authority itself, Mr Estell said that it was reallv the custodian of tho great port. It recognised that produce would be carried in much larger vessels than at present, and it was making provision for the future.' Hence tho necessity for spending so much money now. New Zealand, therefore, need have no fear, in regard to ample provision being made for the handling of its products in London. The Authority was an elective body. The members represented merchants, shipowners, tho Board of Trade, tho Admiralty, the London County Council, wharfingers and Labour. There were about forty members, and meetings were held frequently. Committees sat every day. and tho Board every fortnight. Tlio body yvas constituted under an Act of Parliament.; which gave it control of the river and of tho shipning. Tlio revenue was used principally in paving interest on the purchase' price of the undertaking, which was £23,000,000. The . organisation 'was clpselv associated’ with London's commercial life, and he hoped, while in Christchurch, to have an opportunity to give a lecture dealing with London’s commercial greatness, and the methods of handling all sorts of goods, from ostrich feathers to drugs, wool, grain and " Prime Canterbury.”