PILOTAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 68, 21 March 1934, Page 12

PILOTAGE.

QUESTION OF RATES. BY-LAWS AMENDED. MATS OK LINE'S PAYMENT. Because of the fact that the Marine Department took exception to the recent, decision of the Auckland Harbour Board to reduce its pilotage rates, the board yesterday decided to amend its by-law dealing with pilotage charges. As a result of the amendment, the benefit to the shipping companies will not be as large as originally intended. It was stated in a report of a meeting of the board in committee, held on March 13, that the chairman had reported that the Marine Department had taken exception to certain portions of the by-laws, and that, after discussion with the Department, he recommended that the alterations desired by the Department be made.

A recommendation by the board in 'committee that tlie chairman's report be adopted and the by-laws be amended (1) by eliminating the. latter portion of j No. 3 dealing with the' exemption from pilotage charges after six calls in any year, and (2) by inserting' in N6. 5 the -words "which •is •-the property of the "board" after the words "Manukau Harbour," was adopted without comment. In an at,, the .conclusion of the meeting the chairman, Mr. T. B. Clay, said that he was unable at the present juncture to make any detailed statement on the position. He could say, however, that the result of the amendment would be that the-benefit in pilotage fees of £47otf,' recency granted to the Matson Line, \yould Jbe' reduced by approximately,*.fl;spO'7J)et annum./ The benefit to soniß;flp^>c^ia^nie^ : also be reduced, biltto a. lesser degreed Following the' Xecommcridation« of: a special rcwnmittee, the hoard deeided on February' 8 .to reduce pilot-age- fees. . It was recommended -that avmaximum rate of pilotage" out pe? .vessel should;-be fixed, with -half rates for a second .visit on tlite sanio' trip to the Dominidn, provided, .however, that' ™ vessel Should bd charged; -pilotage' .for more than six calls itf any' one year. The approximate benefits to the ship-; ping companies were stated.as foljow:— Matson Line, £4750; New Zealand Shipping Company, £2646; Union Steam Ship' Company, fi2oo; Shaw, Savill, £920; Blue Star Line, £727; Commonwealth and I>ominion, £370; sundry shipping, £200. v , ' ;

Atritfel/ tfhtyßf th 6 ".tedurtiohs-- were announced an rofficial; of the "'board stated. tjiat the matter had been,'care-, fully gibne into and that no favouritism to any one company had been shown.