LIVERPOOL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 30 July 1929, Page 2

LIVERPOOL

MARKET FOR DOMINION PRODUCTS /INCREASED SHIPMENTS URGED Mr I!. Wiilson Rome, trade assistant In the general iiiiiiiagGr of tin* Mersey Docks mill Harbour Board, has now returned from his mission (o Australia and New Zealand, where lie went on behalf of Ihe board to endeavour to develop (he diretl shipment of cargoes from those Dominions lo Liverpool. Alter sin extensive tour of these countries* he is convinced, stales the "Liverpool Post," that (here are great-possibili-ties of stimulating this trade, and of! giving to Liverpool a largo share of: the imports thai at present find their, way mainly to London, lie had an excellent reception everywhere, and feels, confident that his mission, if energetically followed up by the Liverpool traders, will yield valuable results. INTERVIEW WITH PREMIERS Mr Home staled that he had seen all the leading exporters in Australia and New eZaland. Jle had personal interviews willi Mr Bruce, the Commonwealth Premier, and Stale Premiers; with Sir Joseph Ward, the Premier of New Zealand, and other Ministers, in both countries, alid with the chairmen and secretaries of Chambers of Commerce, lie delivered over thirty official addresses to chambers, pastoral associations, and at public meetings, and got into personal touch with most of the, butter and cheese factories and meat exporters and freezing companies in New Zealand, besides having interviewed representative trading firms in both, countries. Mr Rome brings back with him voluminous extracts from the Press in which his 'speeches arc widely reported ami discussed. < POPULATION OF TWENTY MILLION SERVED j The main points on which Mr Rome concentrated were, these*:—Probably 80 per cent, of Liverpool's requirements in dairy produce are procured from London, and a considerable saving would be available if direct shipment could bo arranged. Liverpool serves an area with a population of 20,000,000, whereas the population of London's area of influence is 17,000,000. During the year prior to his departure Liverpool on butter alone spent £45,000 in. railago from London to Liverpool. WASTED RAIL HAULAGE In spite of her considerable share in commanding northern distribution, Liverpool's direct shipment of butter is only about 3 per cent, of the total imports into the United Kingdom, and 9 per cent, of the total imports of cheese. London imports 52 per cent, of the total imports of butter and 70 per cent, of the total cheese. According to economists, at least 34 ner cent, of the produce put on the London market goes to the North of England. If that percentage could be landed direct at Liverpool and Glasgow, and so save the unnecessary rail haulage through Britain, a total saving of nearly a quarter of a million could be effected. Liverpool now has a very big direct trade with, the Argentine, and imports practically all her requirements of meat direct. The same position should gradually apply in regard to New Zealand and Australian produce. Mr Rome pointed out that if some organisation or cooperation could be effected between the three main boards in New Zealand--meat, dairy produce, and fruit—there should be no difficulty in effecting a sav. ing of £125,000 per annum on the produce required by Liverpool. This cooperation was effected before he left New Zealand. • , '•They were amazed at the figures 1 was able to give them in regard to our distributing area and population," Mr Rome remarked. "I laid stress on the population, and pointed out that a large number of steamers which discharge » London go round to Liverpool to get their outward cargoes. Direct shipments would mean that the vessels .would > be able to do two more voyages a year."

BETTER DIRECT SERVICE

Before his departure for England practical results of Mr Rome's propaganda had already begun to mature. The policv of direct shipments was universally endorsed by the business community and the producers. Sir Joseph Ward'was enthusiastically in its favour, and Mr Bruce gave if his moral support* The New Zealand Dairy Board with the support of the Meat and Fruitf Boards applied to the Shipping Committee for Letter direct services, requestin" the provision of two boats a month to°load for British West Coast ports in addition to calling at London. He believes that a strong effort on the part of Liverpool traders would result in a- demand both in Australia and NewZealand for a move efficient steamship service, which the shipping companies would be only too glad to provide.