PORT OF BRISTOL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 108, 9 May 1930, Page 9

PORT OF BRISTOL

LATE SIR T. MACKENZIE

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 27th March.

The Journal of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce for March contains a warm appreciation of the late Hon. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who was an Honorary Freeman of the City and County of Bristol. Sir Thomas's associations with Bristol began in the autumn of 1909, when he, as Minister of Commerce and offices allied thereto in the Parliament of New Zealand, personally conducted a party of delegates attending tho Congress of Chambers of Commerce of the Empire, then being held at Sydney, who were making a tour of New Zealand. He was accompanied by several Ministers of State, who,, following the excellent example of their chief, did all in their power to educate t.heir guests in the wonderful possibilities of New Zealand's future, which they said might result from a well-devised scheme of development. Then, shortly after his appointment as High Commissioner in 1912, Sir Thomas paid a visit _ to Bristol, and made a close inspection Qf the City Docks, as well as those at Avonmouth and Portishead. He was much interested in the excellent arrangements at Avonmouth for the handling of frozen produce, stating he was led to expect much from what he had heard, but what he had now seen greatly exceeded his anticipations. From that time up to his death, in season but never out of season, he tired not in promoting the best interests of Bristol in making it the principal British port of his Dominion. .... He liked the place; he loved the people, and said that, if ever he came to live permanently in England, Bristol would bo the place of his selection.

The Journal concludes: "The news of his death caused great regret in Bristol, where he was much loved, and the Bristol Chamber of Commerce will no doubt make some fitting acknowledgement to his family of their sense of the loss they suffer by his death. One word more: the example of Sir Thomas Mackenzie in devoting his time and energies in promoting the development of his Dominion surely suggests the powers for good which may be exercised by the High Commissioners and Agents-General in London representing the Overseas Dominions in looking for and discovering new trade ~routes from their respective countries to British ports, offering facilities such as Bristol enjoys, with New Zealand. Whether these gentlemen are instructed by their Governments to make such discoveries or whether it is left to their own initiative it matters not, but one thing is certain, what is wanted is more men of Sir Thomas Mackenzie's type, and with, intelligence, which may be expected, trade will be fostered and a much desired development would follow. We may* assure all concerned that the most hearty co-operation would be given by the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Shipping, as may be required."

The writer of this appreciation was Mr. Henry L. Biselcy, a past president of the Bristol Incorporated Chamber of Commerce and Shipping, and a keen advocate of duect trade between the Dominions and Avonmouth.