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The following remarks on the year's work which are here submitted were drawn up by the
Wharves Inspector, Mr. T. Ashdown.
Unsound Food and Foreign Meat Regulations.
" In reviewing the operations under the above in this district during the year 1912 I find that
the quantities of goods received are in some cases smaller than in the previous year, but the decrease
was probably not due to slackness in trade but to labour trouble. During the strike here, work at
the water-side was at a standstill, and considerable trade drifted to other ports.
In the past, want of uniformity of inspection has been blamed for the diversion of certain
lines of goods, but complaints of that kind have not been so numerous during the period under report.
At the present, comment is made rather frequently that Continental fruit, etc., arriving on
“ through rates " by the Southern Counti Railways, reaches the London Market without inspection.
Pig Carcases.
None have been landed in the district during the year.
Bacon.
Principally Siberian or Russian, the number of bales was about 73,000, and is below the number
for last year, I think, entirely through the labour trouble, otherwise there would have been a
considerable increase.
The quality continues to improve especially compared with the early consignments of pig
carcases.
Beef.
Queensland frozen beef in quarters. The quantity received, unexamined, in this district
has been smaller than in recent years, and of that received considerable quantities were intended
for export so that it went unexamined into cold store pending re-shipment. In those examined a
much smaller number, than formerly, was found infested with the beef worm (Onchocerciasis). More
care has evidently been exercised by exporters.
Beef Tongues.
(Commented upon in last year's survey.) The regulations with regard to these and the method
of inspection had not been altered at the end of the year under report. More stringent measures
are evidently necessary. The principal portion of those brought to this district in ships now go into
barge direct and are landed in the City.
Beef Offal.
With one exception, that passing through wharves in this district had been cleared at the
Docks.
Butter Milk Blended.
The Regulations have only been applied to one parcel of 502 boxes at half cwt. each, during
the year. These were injured by a fire in the ship's hold and were stopped on landing as being
unfit for human food.
Canned Meats.
One new line of beef from Madagascar caused considerable trouble during the early portion
of the year, upwards of 13 tons from different consignments were seized after which a representative
of the firm visited this country and here upon the matter, apparently with good results.
Eggs.
Have again received considerable attention, and although a large number of unsound undoubtedly
still reach the consumer, great improvement has taken place. In dealing with unsound
parcels at the Wharves we have followed the practice of the past few years and insisted that when
sorting and re-packing is necessary from our point of view, the same be done in this district, to which
there is now seldom an objection raised.
The result of this action, is to some extent shown by the item of about 81 tons mentioned
in the table attached as destroyed.
This is a larger amount destroyed out of a smaller quantity landed.
Soft Fruit and Vegetables.
Considerable quantities of these goods have as usual been landed, but the proportion seized
or stopped has been small.
Continued improvement in packing and transit no doubt account for this.
For the seoond year no German plums have been seized.
In presenting this Summary I desire to put on record the ready and valuable assistance
rendered me in the execution of the duties under these regulations by the Customs Officers attached
to the various stations within my district.”