PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1960, 17 January 1914, Page 8

PORT OF LONDON AUTHORITY.

AN OFFICER IN NEW ZEALAND. (By- Telegraph —Press Association.) Auckland, January 16. A visitor to Auckland at the preeent time is Mr. J. H. Estill, commercial superintendent of tho Port of London Authority, who comes as a represent*-, tivo from that body for the purpose- of. brisigrag prominently before snippers of produce tiro facilities, which the port . affords, for tiro .handling- of ■ Australasian produce. ' 3li\'.Estill'says that'"at u the present time £5,000,000 is being expended by tho Port of London Authority on new. works.) and Now Zealand' producers would appreciate best what was being done when it was understood that £400,080 alond was being spent in proriding improvements for the handling or frozen meat. Tho Port Authority was also building at the Boyal. Albert Dock and at Smithfield Market what would bo the most up-to-date.meat stores in, the world, The improvements how under , way. wrfuld bo completed in about fifteen months' time. The Port Authority's total programme involved an expenditure of £15,000,000, . ."I notice that in some of 'your , ' pipers there is , talk of 'subsidising lines of steamers to tho of England," eaid Mr. Estill. "Now, I put it to you that flwre is no-need for,either Now Zealand or Australia to spend public money in tMs way. Shipowners are only, too ready to carry cargo to any port in England or anywhere- else in the world- if tho cargo is offering, without any ftuestion of subsidy. If the out-ports of -Lngknd are the gold miiiGs tljey aro nSleged to bo by their emissariesi how is it that the great importers who buy. 95 per cent, of your frozen.meat havo not discovered 'them, -and why are they not sending business to thoso ports? All tho principal importers have their agents tiiore, .but "that is as far as it goes. If Hull and Bristol can find for New Zealand produce real. buyers prepared to give, a. little rnoro than London, then they, have a real ease to put bcfqro you, but not otherwise." Mr. Estill this morning had' an interview with tho Prime Minister, and discussed with him various matters affecting Home trade. On Monday, afternoon Mr. Eeiill addresses a meeting of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. .. According to the "Gaiilois," s. London journalist has been, -bequeathed JE4I2 by his great-uncle, it retired.colonel, M for each of 103 occasions on iririth he listened, always with great potirtes? and interest, to the old soldier's 6tory of a battle.