THE LONDON DOCKS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 82, 26 March 1908, Page 2

THE LONDON DOCKS.

PROBABLY BE TAKEN OVER 11Y THE GOVERNMENT. London, March 24Tho directors of the Loudon and East India Docks recommend the proprietors! to accept the offer of Mr. D. LloydGeorge, president of the Board of Trade, to purchase the docks as part of the Government scheme for the port of London.

ilr. Lloyd-George lias inforuu'il Captain Collins, Agent-General for the Australian Commonwealth, that, when a proper statutory authority i.- constituted, then will be the. time for the colonies to make representations regarding the provision of ample told storage at the docks. Mr J. W. Taveruer, Victorian AgentGeneral, congratulated Mr- Lloyd-George on securing the Key to the port of Londan. This was a great step towards the proper handling and inspection of Australian produce.

It is said that in the Hill drafted the control of the river will not be given to any individual municipality, and no single municipality will have a majorty of representatives on the port authority. Whatever predominance there is will be be given to the payers of dues—merchants and shipowners, Apart from the payers of dues, the general public will be represented, and that representation will be secured by nominations of t.'ovornnvent departments and the municipalities concerned. The provision of further port facilities will include the deepening and widening of the channel and improving the accommodation for berthing, discharging, collecting, and distributing. There will be no compulsory purchase of the docks. Some dues on goods or ships, possibly both, will be required. These dues will be used for improving the river, but not for purchasing the docks. Finally, there will be no Government subsidy. It is not improbable that the new authority will to some oxtent resemble the Mersey Docks and Harbor Board, a public trust consisting of twenty-eight members, the majority of whom are chosen by dock electors — the merchants and shipowners paying dues, tolls, and dock rates.

Mr. Taveruer, Victorian Agent-Gener-al, recently urged that greater facilities should be provided for discharging perishable products included in the cargoes of vessels from the colonies, and the reduction of the number of handlings required under the present systemThe Minister, in a sympathetic reply, said he recognised that trade with Australasia was growing, and declared that lie would be glad to assist in securing up-to-date facilities and the abolition of the obsolete means of accommodation at present employed. Mr Lloyd-George asked Mr. Tavernei- to Supply'liim with a. copy of his report on the question of establishing a central produce depot, promising that upon receipt of this and other information he would give the whole subject his best attention.