LONDON DOCK IMPROVEMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1503, 27 July 1912, Page 8

LONDON DOCK IMPROVEMENTS.

REPORT FROM PRODUCERS' REPEE- ■-.•■:' . SENTATIVE. ' . For the past two years the New Zealand Producers' Association has been actively pursuing a campaign to urge upon the Port of London Authority the necessity of providing . handling and storing .facilities for New Zealand produce, arid a .measure of success has attended their efforts; i '"■'■:. vMrrF. J. Shelton; the Home representative of.-the association, spent,, several nlonth/of lasfyear on the,spot, and succeeded, in proving the needj and induced the Authority'to agree to certain perman-" eat alterations .to the South-West India Dock,'so as to accommodate New Zealand shipping. ~ The. Authority pointed-out that the-work-could not, however, be accomplished for two or three years, and offered temporary improvements.at either the Victoria or Royal Albert Docks, Mr. Shelton 'then returned to New Zealand, and consulted the association and others interested, and it was decided to approve .the proposed'alteration at the Albert Dock,.,providing they did not' interfere with .the larger scheme. As the Port Authority , intended definitely settling the matter early in May, Mr] Shelton waiinBtructed to proceed to , London to watch the interests of the producers. ./.After consultation with the Authority and the High Commissioner for New Zealand, 1 it.was decided to call a .meeting of all.interested to discuss the proposals. There were'forty gentlemen present. Mr. Whtts, ■representing the Port of London Authority, stated that the SoutX Dock im.prove'meuts would bo'carried out as pro,posed.i,if/ithe .necessary .guarantees were i'6rtheoining,;but in the'/ineantime it was proposed .to give improved facilities and storing accommodation . at the Albert Docks. -The meeting decided to support the proposed alterations, which will be a vast improvement on present conditions, though by no means so central as the . .South-West India Dock.

Mr. Shelton is continuing his represeit- , fation to the Authority- in regard to the , larger soheme, and it is hoped that unanimity will be shown on the part of pro- -. duSers, 'freezing and shipping companies, to secure: for' New Zealand the best and niost up-to-dato facilities for the increas- . ins trade. ... . The local, secretary of the- association ', (Mr. E. C. Jack), in answer to a question, : said tliafc while the Albert Dock jmprove- ; ments.arp. matter for congratulation, they ; . «o not meet the demands of the producers, the South Dock being several, miles : nearer the central market, and the proposed improvements inoro elaborate in ; everyway. There is some danger that th« improved facilities at the Albert Dock ; , may have.jthe effect of modifying the prefent intentions of the Port Authority, jnd their proverbial slowness to move, coupled with'the quiescent mood of thosewho will , naturally. appreciate the improvements ' when installed at the, Albert Dock,- may .. even wreck the negotiations now being i carried on. It willJargely depend on the ' support given to the association in baek- ■ ing up their representations as to whet ther New Zealand will have to ho con- ■ tent with the' temporary improvements or ' wlietheritlie Authority will be made to feel ;that full and adequate consideration is to be given to the New Zealand trade. It is a matter of primo importance that the producers should be specially repre- , Rented in I/ondon, so that the fullest information on all phases of the trade may T>e at their disposal. This, of course, means expense, and it cannot be expected : that a few'should bear'■ Hie burden; just how to get over that difficulty is a problem the association has to face in the near luture. • .. . I