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FRUIT TRANSPORT IN TYNESIDE DISTRICTS.

12th August 1924, Page 12
12th August 1924
Page 12
Page 13
Page 12, 12th August 1924 — FRUIT TRANSPORT IN TYNESIDE DISTRICTS.
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The Motor Vehicle's Part in Maintaining Supplies of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables. Speed an Essential Factor to Prevent Wastage.

WHILST Newcastle and its surrounding countryside have little or no claim to being a fruit and vegetable. producing centre, nevertheless the Tyneside capital plays a very important part. in the trade. for, besides the importa• lion of thousands of tons of these commodities into the Tyne each year, New• castle itself is the accepted rail centre for distribution over a' large portion of the North of England.

Newcastle's part, therefore, is one of final distribution, and in This extremely important task motor vehicles., both privately owned and hired, play a notable part. This is particularly so with the latter class of transPort, for the trade is mostly seasonal, and, except in the case of firms dealing with a wide range of commodities, brokers and dealers in the main prefer to rely upon contractors rather than to purchase their own motors and be compelled to keep them idle at different periods of

the year. As a result., outside hauliers secure much remunerative business from the fruit. trade.

Horse transport still occupies a prominent position so fat as short. journeys are concerned. particularly where the goods handled are of the less perishable varieties, but for longer runs and for dealing with fruits which rapidly de• teriorate motor vehicles have made considerable strides in public favour, more especially during the past two or three years.. Indeed, it is not too much to say, that they. have now proved themselves indispensable to the trade, for, as is obvious, success or failure can depend upon quick conveyance and the conse• quent arrival of the load in good condition.

The time factor is the all-important consideration in these trades, for fruit must be collected, marketed, delivered, displayed and sold in the shortest possible space of time, and this remark

applies with equal force to many kinds of vegetables which have similar characteristics in regard to tenderness and disposition to deteriorate quickly. All these points make it essential for the transport, operations to be expeditiously effected, In the case of a district so far removed from producing centres as Newcastle, the rapid transit.. which can be given direct from the grower to a mainline town • by express railway trains and the subsequent use of motor vehicles for transporting from the central railhead to outlying destinations form a combination of facilities which it. would be difficult to excel. The necessity for this final delivery by motor is becoming more.. and more recognized and resorted to, for such vehicles ensure an infinitely quicker and more reliable service than if local railway facilities were relied upon, in which case it is usually necessary to allow at least a day for transit, whereas

the motors perform the same task in a few hours.

Supplies sent .to Newcastle arrive at three recognized points, these 'being the Quayside, the passenger station, and the goods station, and the duties of the motors are concerned with ruShing these consignments with all possible speed to the establishment of the •numerous brokers, where they are imniediately put up for auction. So soon as a buyer completes a purchase the -broker makes out a delivery note, and the purchaser either collects the fruit himself (if he possesses a motor vehicle) or secures the assistance of a motor haulage contractor ; that is, providing the broker dews not operate lorries for delivery purposes.

So far as the Newcastle fruit and vegetable trade is concerned, it has been found that fairly light and speedy vehicles of one or two-ton capacity are most suitable, provided they possess the necessary durability satisfactorily to perform the heavy tasks delegated to them. Lorries of sturdy build • are especially required for transport work from the Quayside to the fruit market, for the journey of about one mile iA mainly over a steep gradient.

The greater speed which the motor vehicles maintain and the larger loads they carry are the main factors bringing them into favour in place of horses. Several owners of motors compute that each of their vehicle performs the work of about three horses, and at the same time gives a more efficient and economic service. The general expression of opinion is that by the extended use of mechanical transport, cartage bills, which were at one time a severe drain on resources, have been materially reduced.

Different users operate their motors in different ways, for whereas in some cases they are utilized solely for leadingin, buyers thus having to make their

own arrangements for removal of goods, others undertake both leading-in and distribution. Several companies deliver over an area between 20 and 30 miles distant, and in this way they have absorbed a large amount of business which was previously in the hands of the railways.

Prominent amongst the local owners

of motor vehicles used for transporting incoming fruit and vegetables over a fairly wide radius are Messrs. It, Kinghorn and Sons, fruit and potato salesmen, of Newgate Street, who own a 3-ton Albion and a 2-ton Napier ; Messrs. Wm. Hardy and Co., fruit brokers, who use two 2-ton Vulcans solely for rushing supplies to the market in the shortest possible space of time for auction; and Messrs. Dady, banana, fruit and potato salesmen,

who find their light Ford vans of considerable utility. Messrs. Hatidyside own one 30-cwt. Napier and one Ford tonner, whilst other local firms operate single vehicles, and in each "case the transport facilities are supplemented by hiring from outside hauliers when pressure of business renders the use of additional vehicles imperative. Furthermore, these hauliers derive extra business by taking local produce to market from the only two producing centres of note in the neighbourhood, namely, Hexham and Almwick.

Motor vehicles have firmly established themselves in the fruit and vegetable trade, in Newcastle, and, in many instances, have led to extensive increases• in business, as well as helping to keep down retail prices by reducing waste.

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Locations: Newcastle

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