‘Teeth’ in port body

Press, 15 December 1977, Page 3

‘Teeth’ in port body

PA Wellington The New Zealand Ports Authority is given greater power to control the development of the country’s ports under legislation introduced into Parliament yesterday. The New Zealand Ports Authority Amendment Bill is designed to assist rationality in port’s development by giving the authority increased control over spending on harbour facilities and equipment. Introducing the bill, the Minister of Transport 'Mr McLachlan) said that it was a response to a belief voiced in the National Party’s 1975 Election manifesto that an effective authority was

necessary for harbour planning and development. In the past it had been claimed that the authority “lacked teeth” and the bill sought to clarify the authority’s functions in relation to the national port plan, extend its powers in certain areas and clarify aspects of its procedures, he said. One important extension of the authority’s powers is for it to cover all harbour works whether or not they are carried out by a harbour board. Its control will also cover large items of plant and equipment to be used in ports when it considers that their use would be of significance to the national ports plan. The authority is also given the power to examine leases

. for berths or back-up areas to ensure that sole-user i rights do not preclude a po- ’ tential user from taking ad- [ vantage of under-used facili- ■ ties. > The Labour spokesman on I transport, Sir Basil Arthur s (Timaru), said he was sur- ■ prised that the bill did not go further but was pleased f to see a measure that brought ■ greater control over spendi ing. However, there was a . danger that the changes •could cut across the philoI sophy of non-interference ; with harbour boards, he said. The bill was introduced ! and referred to the Local ! Bills Select Committee for ; recess study.