Private companies may control ports

Press, 21 May 1987, Page 9

Private companies may control ports

The Government plans to privatise ports, says the national secretary of the Harbour Workers’ Union, Mr Ross Wilson. The proposed reorganisation of harbour boards — with shareholding divided equally between harbour boards and territorial local authorities — was the first step, he said. “Mr Prebble admits the reorganisation will allow the local authorities to sell their 50 per cent of the shares. There is no restriction on who they

can sell to.” Mr Wilson said he had reliable information that there was a second stage which would abolish harbour boards and the remaining shareholding would be sold to private companies. “We don’t think it is in the public interest for private companies to be in control of our ports,” he said. Ports were too vital to the economy to be handed over. Private companies would make decisions on purely com-

mercial grounds. There was no need for local authorities to be involved with the running of ports, Mr Wilson said. “The elected harbour boards are there to safeguard the public interest” Mr Prebbie’s proposal to give local authorities a 50 per cent shareholding in harbour boards was simply a device to achieve privatisation, he said. Mr Prebble was not available for comment last evening.