The Port of London Bill was introduced into the House
of Commons by Mr. Gerald Balfour on Monday. The main principles of the Bill are—(1) that a new port authority is to be created, consisting of fourteen appointed members (of whom the County Council choose eight, the City two, and the Admiralty, the Board of Trade, Trinity House, and the Rail- ways Association one each) and twenty-six members elected (ten, by the shipowners, ten by the merchants, four by the wharfuagers, and two by owners of river craft.); (2) that this Board shall buy up all the existing docks ; and (3) that they shall deepen the river channel, and also improve the dock accommodation, spending £2,500,000 on such works. As it is estimated that £4,500,000 will be required fcr purchase, the new port authority will need to raise some £7,000,000. This it will do under the guarantee of the London County Council. In order to pay interest on the money borrowed, the Board will be entitled to impose shipping and harbour dues.
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