PORT OF LONDON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1939, Page 11

PORT OF LONDON

AUTHORITY’S ANNIVERSARY.

DEVELOPMENTS IN RECENT YEARS. “The P.L.A. Monthly" for April contains a review of the activities of the Port of London Authority during the last thirty years by Mr J. D. Ritchie, general manager. “Thirty years have elapsed since the ■appointed day,' March 31. 1909, when the Port of London Authority became responsible for the Port of London. The world's progress in all. material respects during the period 1909-1.939 has been so exceptional that the period has also been one of peculiar interest and importance for the Port of London.

“An immediate and exhaustive survey enabled the Authority to approve during the year following its inception a comprehensive programme of development and improvement. The Authority’s first concern was to deepen and widen the approach to the Port and the channels of the Thames. The necessary plant was commissioned, and by 1928, despite the interruption of the War, an ambitious dredging programme was completed. “Simultaneously with the improvement of the river channels, the authority commenced the systematic development of the five dock systems in the Port. During the past thirty years the whole of the P.L.A.’s dock estate has been developed and extended without disturbance of trade.

“The tonnage of shipping using the Port of London is now two thirds more than what it was in 1909, and notwithstanding the great increase in the Port’s capacity brought about, the Authority decided in 1936 to adopt a further programme of development to provide for future requirements. “The major feature of the.new programme involves the complete modernisation of the Royal Victoria Dock to provide the Port with additional deepwater berths and a large amount of additional modern ware-housing accommodation.”