The Royal Commission on the Port of London, the Board of Trade, as representing the Government, the Thames Conservancy, the dock companies and others recommend the deepening of the river by dredging as a remedy for (a), and as a partial remedy for (b) and (f). As to (c) no remedy seems to be proposed by either, but rather an increase of dues, or in lieu thereof a charge upon the rates of London through the London County Council.
Partly to amend (d) it is proposed by all the above authorities, except the Thames Conservancy, that a Port Trust should be created to control the river, instead of the present conflicting authorities of the Thames Conservancy, Trinity House, the City Corporation and the Watermen’s Company.
But as to (e) there is no suggestion of amendment, nor is it expected that the proposed deepening of the river will materially improve the dangerous navigation (g).
Port of London Bill, 1903.
The Government has sought to give effect to the Report of the Royal Commission on the Port of London in this Bill, which reached the stage of Committee of the whole House, and was then suspended till next Session (1904).
But as there were seventy petitions presented against the Bill, and a large number of amendments stand on the notices for Committee of the whole House, it may justly be concluded that the Bill satisfies no one, and that the attempt of the Government to force it through the House by stifling discussion of most of its vital points in Committee was a flagrant violation of public rights, and will have a disastrous effect on the future settlement of the question.
Dockisation the True Remedy.
In 1755 Smeaton proposed the dockisation of the River Clyde as a means of providing a sufficient depth of water for the increasing trade of the Port of Glasgow. His plan was rejected, and the Clyde Trustees have since expended £7,430,000 in dredging and improving the river to a low-water depth of 20 ft., and now spend annually a large sum in maintaining this depth.
Thos. Howard proposed the dockisation of the Avon at Avonmouth in 1877 to provide a sufficient depth of water for vessels passing to the Bristol Docks up and down the Avon, there being a rise and fall of tide in the Severn of nearly 40 ft. His proposal was not adopted because the extraordinary range of tide would have left the entrance unapproachable at low water, causing delay in the Severn Channel.