Control Of Harbour Traffic

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30562, 3 October 1964, Page 14

Control Of Harbour Traffic

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 2. Six remits passed at the last conference of the Harbour Association of New Zealand, aimed at improving harbours’ administration, are contained in the Harbours’ Amendment Bill which was given a first reading in Parliament today. Five other clauses, said the Minister of Marine (Mr

Scott), were aimed at clarifying a defect in the definition covering rivers and lakes for navigational purposes which had come to light in a court action. There were also nine amendments to by-laws giving harbour boards control over foreshore trafiic, one in particular giving boards the power to move a vehicle which might have been left on the wharf by a person travelling to another centre. Mr N. E. Kirk (Opp., Lyttelton) asked whether it would be possible for the Minister to indicate whether some short-circuiting' of procedure could be adopted whereby boards did not have to come

to Parliament every time they required to take action on such matters, in particular, as reclamations. The preparation of Legislation was costly and in some instances such matters could be handled more conveniently by Order-in-Council. Mr Scott said that the whole field covering harbour administration, as affected by requirements to come to Parliament, was being examined with the purpose of streamlining and encouraging efficiency, particularly where no rating was involved. The bill authorises boards, with the consent of the Audit Office, to pay money by cheques issued by a cheque-

writing machine and to exclude from the annual statement, a list of contracts entered into by boards. Boards are also empowered to make advances to employees on mortgage for housing purposes, and to pay members of boards at the rate of 30s for each board meeting or committee meeting—to a limit of £7B a year. In addition to powers given boards to control traffic on the foreshore, the bill also makes it clear that the . powers extend to animals. Power given to boards to control anchorages are extended to cover the land provided by the board in connexion with an anchorage.