H.—34a

22

Imports from New Zealand, landed at Princes Dock, Glasgow, from January, 1905, till May, 1907.

Glasgow is rather behindhand in the matter of facilities for handling New Zealand produce. There are no cold-stores or refrigerated transit-sheds on her quays, and the handling of meat is about as unsatisfactory as it is at Liverpool. These two ports have, indeed, many things in common. They have such a large general shipping business that they pay little heed to the requirements of an import trade in foodstuffs, which represents but an infinitesimal proportion of their total business; and the harbour is in each case managed by a trust which is in no way amenable to public pressure. Hence, while the Glasgow docks are splendidly equipped and efficiently managed, and while there is every facility for the delivery and distribution of general merchandise by rail, little or no attention is paid to the special requirements of the import trade in foodstuffs. Frozen meat is, as in Liverpool, landed from the ship's slings into large open sheds, sorted out to different consignees under unfavourable conditions, and carted to stores at least a mile from the docks. The same thing applies to boneless beef, in which there is a considerable trade at Glasgow. Once the meat reaches the refrigerating-stores it is well cared for, and, as the Corporation has provided a commodious and well-arranged dead-meat market, the subsequent handling of the meat is conducted under the best conditions; but it almost goes without saying that in wet or warm weather it suffers deterioration owing to the lack of facilities at the docks. Trade in New Zealand Products. Opinions of Importers, &c. Frozen Meat. —The proprietor of a large refrigerated stores in the heart of the city had a good deal to say regarding the actualities and possibilities of the meat trade in Glasgow. He said he had built these stores, which have a million feet storage-space, for the express purpose of accommodating direct shipments of New Zealand meat; but instead of these he had simply got small quantities from London and Liverpool. Glasgow, he said, is looked upon as a sort of dumping-ground for the surplus meat from Liverpool, and that which reaches Glasgow is generally of inferior quality. He also provides cold-storage for butter and cheese. He has an arrangement with the Allan Line from America, under which frozen meat is handled without the slightest risk of deterioration. This arrangement was entered into at the instigation of the Canadian Government, acting in the interests of the producers. If the New Zealand Government were to take similar action, an identical arrangement could be arrived at for the proper handling of New Zealand produce in Glasgow. At present the handling is most unsatisfactory. There may be eight different consignees of New Zealand meat, and the carcases get all mixed up in course of delivery from the

Date. Vessel. Frozen „ . Meats. Uraln ' Flour. Timber. Cheese. Tallow. Butter. Wool. Skins. Hemp. 1905. Jan. 13 „ 26 Feb. 27 Mar. 10 April 14 June 22 Aug. 8 Sept. 5 Oct. 1 „ 16 Deo. 6 1906. Mar. 20 April 16 May 6 „ 30 July 4 Aug. 11 Sept. 6 Oct. 5 Nov. 9 Oct. 16 Nov. 15 Dec. 6 „ 22 1907. Jan. 13 April 15 May 11 Tons. 15 8 Tors. 830 275 243 75 234 Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. 14 Tons. S.s. Surrey „ Banffshire Oswestry Grange „ Avrsbire „ Suffolk „ Somerset „ Morayshire „ Banffshire „ Nairnshire „ Wakanui. „ Essex 80 116 76 50 111 288 24 70 263 15 300 75 40 85 104 100 "l2 4 11 6 200 62 20 22 „ Devon „ Morayshire „ Somerset „ Ayrshire „ Essex Dorset „ Waiwera „ Oswestry Grange „ Devon „ Wakanui „ Karamea „ Essex . . „ Waimate 78 136 392 478 460 358 272 45 50 68 8 47 73 45 15 200 10 24 127 86 22 11 17 33 10 16 10 26 40 53 12 27 80 12 50 31 82 80 20 136 161 .10 15 20 242 "l 20 30 24 47 97 266 "57 2 '7 „ Morayshire „ Sussex „ Oswestry Grange 155 340 "30 52 22 100 "73 37 60 72 15 113 50 14 Totals 3,704 2,937 115 !l,707 167 45 57 205 59 704