View report page

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, in this district, under the abovementioned
regulations for the twelve months ended December
31st, 1914, comparisons with past years will not be of their usual
value as indicators of trade or percentage of waste in the foodstuffs
arriving.
During the first seven months, there appeared to be a general
and considerable increase of foods landed in the district, but during
the latter five (the period of the war) ships from some ports that
previously discharged here regularly stopped, from others the
number decreased and the arrivals were irregular, while from
others the ships were more numerous and the goods of greater
variety; but the largest increase to the wharves —especially at
the West end of the district was by river craft from the docks.
It is interesting to note that while the service of boats from
Russia was much curtailed during the latter months the quantity
of bacon landed in the district during the year increased from
about 108,000 packages in 1913 to about 144,000 packages during
the present year.
Bacon and Pork Products.
During the period under report five additional certificates
were declared admissible, four relative to Russian and one to
Swedish products. These have greatly reduced the Inspectorial
duties with regard to bacon and the amount seized has been small.
With regard to other pork products, especially tongues from
Russia, these, although certificated in accordance with the regulations,
were found to be still diseased to such an extent that the
certificate was ignored. Representations on the matter were
made to the authorities concerned but without the desired result
and the last consignment of the year after examination was stopped.