PRODUCE IN ENGLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1921, Page 4

PRODUCE IN ENGLAND.

SERIOUS CONGESTION AT LONDON. DELAY IN DISCHARGING. SPACE AT OTHER PORTS. ( By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this afternoon the Premier made the following statement on the subject of delays experienced in unloading New Zealand produce at the port of London: — “Consequent upon the delays which have occurred in connection ’with discharging of New Zealand meat and dairy produce in London, I have been in communication with the High Commissioner with a view to endeavouring to arrive at the full facts of the matter, and especially 7 to ascertain whether' anything could be done to relieve the very serious position brought about by inability to discharge produce after a vessel’s arrival in London, and the delay resulting before the return voyage can be undertaken. A cable lias now been received from the High Commissioner, in which he states that as regards dairy produce, cheese is not so much affected, though there was con* siderable delay in the case of the steamer Somerset,, in which cheese was carried in the lower hold, with meat above it. It was in vessels which had arrived later that considerable delay had taken place in discharging their butter cargoes, consequent upon meat carried above the butter being unable to be discharged owing to the storage ashore not being available. \ “The High Commissioner states that the congestion of refrigerated storage for meat in London is decidedly serious. He has ascertained that cold storage is available in Liverpool, Manchester, Cardiff, Hull, Bristol and Southampton for approximately 800,000 freight carcases, and advises that he is calling the attention of the principal importers of refrigerated produce to this fact, and suggesting the possibility of diverting some future cargoes to these centres. The High Commissioner further states that to assist in preventing the perpetuation of present conditions, shippers might consider the advisability of consigning some portion, at any rate, of their shipments of refrigerated produce to other ports, instead of concentrating everything in London.

“In view of the present day position | the present congestion of refrigerated i storage at Home is highly detrimental I to the interests of the Dominion, and ! the matter is of such urgent importance that by way of supplementing the efforts which are being made by the .High Commissioner, I have made representations regarding it to the Imperial . authorities through the mediur of the Governor-General.”