THE PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 54, 9 July 1913, Page 3

THE PRODUCERS' ASSOCIATION.

REPLY TO LONDON CRITICISM. Replying to London criticism with reference to the producers' movement, Mr W. D. Lysnar, who has just completed a Dominion campaign on behalf of the New Zealand Producers' Association, has made a lengthy statement with regard to the difficulty with the Port of London authority and the accommodation for frozen meat. He points out that in October, 1910, the New Zealand Producers' Committee, including himself, interviewed Lord Devonport as chairman of the Port of London Authority, and asked that the South-West India Dock should bo made available for New Zealand trade, and in reply he stated that the committeo had convinced him that the present facilities were unsatisfactory, and he promised that the facilities asked for would lie provided within 18 months. In the following annual report of London Dock Authority made up to the 31st March, 1911, the chairman makes the following statement: — "Representations have been made to the Authority by the agents of New Zealand agricultural and other organisations, who have been specially commissioned to visit England, that it is desirable to make certain improvements in the facilities for the handling of frozen meat in the Port of London.

"The principal points urged by the representatives have been that barge transit from the ship to the cold store should be abandoned in favor of, the quickest possible land route; that the Authority's store in Smithfield should be extended; that all meat should be discharged at once into a sorting shed instead of being sorted in the ship's hold; and that the dock of discharge for Xew Zealand vessels should be the South-West India Dock instead of the Royal Victoria and Albert Docks as at present. "With the object of extending its premises at Smithfield, the Authority for some time past has been negotiating with the City Corporation for a site immediately adjoining Smithfield Market.

' "For the last 30 years this trade has had' its_ .principal depot at the Victoria and Albert Docks, and it is realised that its removal to another dock involves serious considerations, entailing the navigation of large steamers a further distance up the Thames. The Authority, much impressed by these representations arid by the desirability of meeting them in a practical has decided, in connection, with -its programme; 6f new works and improvements, to enlarge the scheme for reconstruction of the South-West India Dock by making the dock accessible to vessels of a length of 650 ft., instead of 500 ft."

After much negotiation, which Mr Lysnar details, he says that on the 16th February, 1912, after producers bad agreed to the London Port suggestion, the latter cabled to the Producers' Association: "Importers desire new scheme and meat business kept Victoria Albert Docks." On the 27th June, 1912, the Authority wrote to the Producers' Association's London representative as follows: "Whilst you were in New Zealand oressure was brought upon, the Authority to provide the additional facilities at the Albert Dock in substitution of the Victoria Dock proposal. Influential . interests have expressed a wish that the Albert Dock would be a permanent measur^."

At a meeting called in London by Sir William Hall-Jones, then High Commissioner for N.Z., on the 12th July, 1912, to consider the matter, Mr Foster's representative seconded an amendment moved by Weddell and Co.'s representative that the Albert Dock site be selected for N.Z. trade instead of the S.W. India as moved by Mr Shelton. This amendment was carried by the predominating number of London -meat importers present, and it is this scheme that has since been finally adopted in place of the S.W. India Dock. Mr Lysnar continues: —"I have no hesitation in saying that the New Zealand producers will derive no practical advantages from the suggested improvements at the Albert Docks when completed, and that the main I object of these impractical improvements are to protect the London importers' interests, and to appease the agitation for improvements. The Premier for Victoria has already publicly stated that improvements at this locality would be of no use for Australia, then how can they be of use in New Zealand? I suggest the producers will realise more than ever the

imperative necssity of diverting their

trade to Bristol and other West of England ports, and co-operate with

each other by supporting the Bristol and Dominions Producers' Associa-

tion to receive and market their produce through the. new channels; and if they do this in a reasonable way 1 am convinced that they will within, say, two years, improve their returns upon their present exports to the extent of quite five million pounds sterling. I have already publicly stated how this huge sum is computed which our producers are now annually losing, and I dare any person to successfully challenge this statement. The whole question is, will the producer show that he has sufficient stamina to protect himself? After going from one end of New Zealand to the other, I say that 1 believe they will."