PORT OF BRISTOL

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 108, 3 November 1926, Page 15

PORT OF BRISTOL

SIR T. MACKENZIE'S VISIT

FAVOURED COMMERCIAL

POSITION,

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, 22nd September. When Sir Thomas Mackenzie was HigV Commissioner for New Zealand he often visited. Bristol, and besides making majy friends there he was made a Freeman o£ the city. A few days ago he was again at Bristol and called on a number of old friends. As a Freeman, he paid his respects to the Lord Mayor at the Council House. The occasion lias called forth an editorial note in the "Bristol Times and Mirror." "Sir Thomas," says the writer, "inspected the outer docks, spending a considerable, time in perambulating the extensive wharves space and inspecting the latest equipment with' which. the docks are furnished. He has always expressed great confidence^ as to the future of Bristol as a seaport,' recognising as he does that it 'should be the! very sea door for the admitt*icc of overseas commerce into Eng land. there can be no doubt;of Bristol's favoured position in this respect, but there are mighty vested interests to be overcome or to be conciliated before full advantage can be reaped. Sir Thomas warmly congratulated the docks management upon the -facilities which exist at Avonmouth for quick handling of cargo, declaring it to be the very last word in the interest of despatch of business. He declares tho Portway to be the finest-road he has seen anywhere in the 'world.':' -- . ' "It is well, of course, to have such an influential friend as Sir Thomas Mackenzie, whose goodwill might well enable him to do the port of Bristol not one but many real commercial turns. The meeting between him and the Lord Mayor was

most cordial, andilater, when lie came into the Commercial' Rooms and Exchange in the afternoon at-the time when business men 'most do congregate,' it was quite like a reception. There were hearty handshakes between him and the mni>j< who had made his genial acquaintance >>v the occasion of his former visit. Without being accused of undue optimism, it might well be that Bristol one of these days will be the^dircct port for Nov,' Zealand meat' consignments, and^Tor the best of all reasons it is the nearest port to that beautiful,overseas possession."