The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-08-16 00:00:00

The next paragraph commences by admitting that advan-
tageous alterations might be effected in the working of the
docks if accomplished in combination with other improve-
ments which the committee have not the legal power to effect.
I do really admire the boldness, nay, the audacity of the dock
committee, in thus telling the town council, and, through
the press, the whole mercantile community, that they (the
dock committee) cannot permit the adoption of admitted ad-
vantageous alterations in the working of the docks, unless
they (the dock committee) are allowed to erect warehouses
on land available from its situation for those most invaluable
purposes, docks and quays, although the dock committee
themselves admit that there is a deficiency of dock and quay
space, and it is universally admitted that there are more
warehouses already than the trade of the town requires.
The reply to the demanded establishment of a competition
appears to be based on an assertion that the dock rates
amount to " no more than the expense of working and main-
taining the docks." I believe a reference to the dock ac-
counts will prove this to be a gross misstatement. By the
blunder on the meaning of the word monopolist, I should
have thought the report had been written by an Irishman,
had not the worthy Alderman Binn's name been appended
to

There being little or no redundance of dock accommoda-
tion, those who hold it" (the dock committee), being one
body, are monopolists, and those who want it (the ship-
owners and merchants) are competitors ; and it is to break
up this intolerable and grievous monopoly that the merchants
suggest the letting off the docks to different companies autho-
rised to charge established rates, contending that such com-
panies would strive to make a' profit by endeavouring to in-
crease the quantity of work done in the respective docks :
thus their own interest would lead them to the earl; adoption
of every improvement for the rapid discharge and loading of
ships, and would always operate to cause the various compa-
nies to afford every possible facility, accommodation, and
despatch, combined with the pleasing accompaniment of civi-
lity, as inducements for ships to resort to their respective
docks. As to creating a formidable tenantry, with vested
rights and permanent control, such idea is a mere bugbear
from the prolific but distorting imaginations of the sub-com-
mittee.
Notwithstanding the Johnsonian periods of the next three
or four paragraphs of the report, the merchants will, I think,
continue of opinion, that if the " adjuncts" to the Mersey
were let out to different companies for management, the uti-
lity of our " adjuncts" would be much increased, and the
trade of the port improved.
The argument against the appointment of a paid superin-
tendent is destroyed at once by the fact that it was not pro-
posed that the dock committee should part with the appoint-
ment of and control over the superintendent, it being only
proposed that the superintendent should have the entire ma-
nagement of the working of the docks.
In considering their grievances, under the present dock
system, the constitution of the dock committee (the grand
point of Whig attacks in former days) would probably be the
first question that would occur to the merchants, being ano-
ther instance of the gross partiality of the liberal concocters
of the Municipal Bill ; well knowing, however, that the dock
committee have neither the power nor inclination to remedy
that grievance, the merchants appear to have adverted to it
merely that their silence on a point vitally affecting the ques-
tion might not be misconstrued. Their memorial does dis-
tinctly recommend transit sheds, and I therefore submit that,
as they do not recommend dock warehouses, it is to be in-
ferred that a majority of the merchants consider it improper,
if not absurd (meaning no offence to the dock committee), to
erect warehouses on any land available either for docks or
quays, more especially in central situations,,where all parties,
including the dock committee, admit that there is a positive
insufficiency of dock and quay space in Liverpool.
To the fact of a deficiency of docks and quays in Liverpool,
I beg also to add that there is a superabundance of ware-
houses built as near to the docks as the danger of fire renders
prudent, an enormous bulk of business, commodious streets,
and a compact locality, which render it dangerous and impo-
litic to have dock warehouses ; whereas, in London, the
great extent of the city, the narrow and crowded streets, the
superabundance of docks and remote distances, might render
dock warehouses desirable there ; but there, according to
Alderman Evans, the dock warehouses are of little moment,
as 17-20ths of the shipping business of London is transacted
in the river ;—in short, I submit, in the words of the dock
committee, that " the distinction of locality and physical cir-
cumstances have been inconsiderately overlooked, and that
which is totally dissimilar has been taken as analagous" by
the dock committee, when they recommended dock ware-
houses in Liverpool.
With all deference to the dock committee, I do think that,
when endeavouring to add to their overgrown and confes-
sedly ill-managed dock monopoly, a still more extensive and
oppressive monopoly of the warehousing of the port of Liver-
pool, they might have bestowed a little attention on the fla-
grant injustice and ruinous consequences which their uncalled-
for attempt would have inflicted on many of the inhabitants,
comprising all those enterprising individuals who, by the
timely adventure of about £4,000,000, have hitherto provided
warehouse accommodation at all times more than adequate
to the trade of the town, at much lower rates than in the
boasted dock warehouses of London.
The dock report concludes with an awful grumbling, that
the merchants should have reprinted an old dock report. I
fancy I recollect some self-sufficient theorist in the town
council challenging the merchants to put forward their
grievances, as though they would not bear discussion, which
cuckoo note seemed to be repeated at the last meeting of the
town council. The merchants court publicity as a way to the
promoting of the true interest of the trade of the town, and
iu the same spirit I subscribe myself, your obedient servant,
A SHIPOWNER.

LIVERPOOL MASTER BUTCHERS' DINNER.

On Tuesday afternoon, a number of the master butchers
of Liverpool dined together at the house of Mr. Alexander
Mackenzie, in Cable-street, on which occasion a splendid
ram's head snuff-box was presented by them to Mr. Ephraim
Knapper, in consideration of the services rendered by him to
the trade. The dinner and dessert were most excellent in
quality, and superfluously abundant ; the wines were extremly
good ; and the polite attention of the worthy host made
everything pass off to the unmingled satisfaction of the whole
company. Mr. Robert Richmond was in the chair, and Mr.
William Walthew acted as vice-president.
After the withdrawal of the cloth, the CHAIRMAN gave in
suecession—" The Queen ;" " The Queen Dowager and
the rest of the Royal Family ;" " Her Majesty's Ministers ;"
" His Grace the Duke of Wellington; " Our Glorious
Constitution ;" and " The Landed, Trading, and Commer-
cial Interests of the Country." Between the toasts, several
appropriate songs were sung by different gentlemen.
The CHAIRMAN having intimated that Mr. Agett had some-
thing to say on the occasion of the present meeting,
Mr. JOHN AGETT rose and said, that it fell to his lot, at
the instance of the master butchers of Liverpool, to have the
honour to be deputed, in their names, to present Mr. Knap-
per with a superb ram's head snuff-box, silver mounted and
ornamented, as a mark of their respect for him, and thanks
for his invaluable services, at various times, during a period
of more than thirty-five years. He believed he could with
confidence assert, that although the tribute was but small, it
was, nevertheless, well intended, and was meant to show
their great respect for Mr. Knapper, whose eminent services,
indeed, could not be adequately compensated by a present,
although it were one hundred times the value of the one
tendered. Mr. Agett alluded to the attempts which had
been made to strip the master butchers of their rights and
privileges which they ought to enjoy in common with every
other body of tradesmen and expressed a hope that the
trade would unite hand and heart in support of those rights,
and bid defiance to their oppressors, seeing, as they were led
to believe, that the council were not vested with the power
of imposing on the trade the restrictions which they sought
to carry into effect. Mr. Agett, turning to Mr. Knapper,
then said, " That you sir, may long live to have the pleasure
of using the box which I now; present to you, well sup-
plied with good snuff, in participation with your friends,
over a bottle of sparkling old port, is the hearty good wish
of the butchers and cattle salesmen of Liverpool." He con-
cluded by reading the inscription on the box, which is as
follows :—" Presented to Ephraim Knapper, Esquire, of
Liverpool, by the butchers and cattle salesmen of that town,
as a token of their respect for him, and in admiration of
the talent, firmness, and zeal he has ever displayed in fur-
therance of their interests, as well individually as a trade
collectively, and for the comfort, cleanliness, advancement.
andprosperity of their business generally.—August 13,1838."
Mr. KNAPPER returned thanks for the handsome acknow-
ledgment of the humble services he had rendered. He
denied that there was any advantage to the public in the con-
centration of the butchers in an abatoir, or that there was
anything in the trade which made such a proceeding neces-
sary, while it was a source of great annoyance and loss to
the butchers themselves, who were sometimes rendered
unable to meet the orders for ships, in consequence of the
distance from the abattoir to the docks. Why should the
private shops of the butchers be done away with, any more
than those of any other body of tradesmen ? and why should
they be compelled against their will to be assembled together
en masse in an arcade ? He had obtained the Opinion of an
eminent counsel (Sergeant Wilde) on the subject, and that
opinion was on every point favourable to the butchers. It
set forth that the corporation could not compel one indivi-
dual to remove from his own premises until a public abattoir
was provided sufficiently extensive for the accommodation of
all the butchers in Liverpool, and for carrying on without
impediment the whole of their business. Mr. K. concluded
by proposing " Prosperity to the master butchers and cattle
salesmen of Liverpool." (Cheers.)
Mr. J. AGETT returned thanks; in doing which be ex-
pressed a very strong disapprobation of the bye-laws
attempted to be forced upon them. Those laws, he said,
would materially injure their business ; for the port was
becoming so extensive that they could not possibly meet the
orders of captains, if the slaughter-houses were to be above
a mile from the docks. He himself had had a beast killed,
dressed, and on board a vessel in three-quarters of an hour
after receiving the order. And instances frequently occurred
when such despatch was necessary. After a vessel had
waited several days, perhaps weeks, for a fair wind, captains
were of course extremely anxious to sail on the first oppor-
tunity, and without the loss of a moment. If their orders
for fresh meat could not be executed on the instant, the ves-
sel must either sail without, or valuable time must he wasted
until the order could be executed. He was quite convinced,
from an experience of twenty-five years, that the butchers of
this town never could have carried on business with the ship-
ping to the extent they had done if they had not been per-
mitted to have shops and slaughter-houses contiguous. He
was certain that if the council knew of the great disadvan-
tages which would result to the trade from the bye-laws,
they would never attempt to enforce them. If, however,
they were determined to enforce them, the trade must have
recourse to a higher authority.
Mr. KNAPPER proposed the health of the chairman, which
was received with much applause.
In returning thanks, the CHAIRMAN mentioned that he
had carried on business for the last ten years in Cable-street,
and had never felt any inconvenience or annoyance from the
slaughter-houses, except occasionally in very warm weather,
and then only in a very trifling degree.
Mr. KNAPPER proposed the health of Sergeant Wilde, to
whose professional abilities he paid a high compliment.—
Drunk with three times three.
The health of Mr. William Walthew, the vice-president,
and several other toasts were given. The company, after
having spent a very pleasant evening, separated at an
early hour.