FROZEN MEAT TRADE

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10705, 28 August 1912, Page 6

FROZEN MEAT TRADE

STORAGE FACILITIES. With the continued incrcaso in the j importation of frozmi meat and chilled meat into the Thames, tlic problems connected with its skilful handling and its expeditions and convenient storage have for some time past jreccived the close attention of the Port of London Authority. The Authority have been in communication with producers and shippers abroad, as well - as with importers and merchants in London, with the view of providing additional and improved accommodation for the trade. As a result, arrangements have now been approved whereby cold storage facilities will be available in the near future for the enormous quantity of approximately 1.100,000 carcases. The recont decision to erect an additional cold store, at West Smithfield has been followed by the adoption of a scheme which will admit of a further 250,000 carcases being stored at the Albert Dock, under conditions unsurpassed" in any port of the kingdom. On the completion of the works, the total capacity of the Authority's cold stores, stated in term of Carcases of mutton, will be as follows: — Carcases. Albert Dock 430.000 Victoria Dock 325;000 West Smithfield 174,000 West India Dock 90,000 Surrey Commercial Dock 07,000

1,086,000 The additional accommodation at the Albert Dock, which will involve an outlay of about £273.000, will mark a new departure, as it will include provision for the discharge bv conveyors direct from •ships' holds into three commodious sorting sheds. This method will avoid undue handling in the ship, which tends to damage the meat, and will further provide for the ranid transit of the. mp n t from the refrigerated chambers v cf the vessel into the capacious insulated sorting sheds. 'ln this way the exposure of the meat to higher temperature durj ing the process of discharge will be reduced to an absolute minimum, and the discharge of the vessels carrying the meat will br> considerably accelerated. The construction of the Inure cold store for 250,000 carcases at the rear of the sortinc sheds will provide the best accommodation for such meat as it is not desired to transfer at once from the shod to insulated railway trucks, road vans or barges. These facilities for avoiding ■ unnecessary handling and exposure may with confidence be expected to have some influence upon insurance rates, to the i advantage of consignee and consumer j alike. They should also tend to enhance the already high reputation of these 'oversea meat supplies, whose importance to the community has been emphasised by the recent outbreak of foot and mouth disease in this country. ■ * N ' For this further large addition to the cold storage facilities offered by the Port of London Authority, the Albert Dock is considered by the trade to offer the most advantageous site, \ | as this dock h wi-ftiin. the London I [ cartage area and in direct railway J communication with the provinces and the largest class of vessel entering the Port can be accommodated there. Should, however, frozen meat imports continue to increase at their present rate, still further accommodnion may be necessary, and if the Albert Dock continues to be the favourite dock for the colonial trade tho extension of the scheme along the whole of the north side of the dock is practicable. Tho Port Authority have other premises at the South-West India Dock which cmild be made available for the handling of this produce by the enlargement of the dock entrance, mid as a. fact the Authority j r.re plodtred t" erect accommodation ! there for the Xew Zealand section of the meat r-rnd«* should tho trade as a whole desire it and be prepared to give aderinnte sruarantoes for tho remunerative utilisation of the premises.