HARBOURS ASSOCIATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 23, 22 October 1907, Page 8

HARBOURS ASSOCIATION.

BIENNI ? c hi :A CONFERENCE OPENS ..TO-MORROW. It was two years in August last since the Harbours Association of New Zealand mot in \ conference. Tho.-'.'bonfercnce.-.of this year: is ; to commence to-morrow, and 'with tlie promise of good attendance of delegates satisfactory business of importanco to tho seaborne trade of New Zealand should be done, : THE REPORT. Tho following is the report to bo presented •" to the confe'renco'assembled I^-., Membership. Tho number of boards affiliated has increased from, ninoteen to twenty...hy tho addition of tho.Motuoka Harbour Board, which caino into existence undor legislation passed in the Session of 1905. .The .Havelpck.Harbour Board, which 'was'constituted during tho same session, has not, so far, joined tho ■Association. Finance. The annual statements of accounts for the . years ending September 30, 1905 and 1906, which were in ordinary course, circulated,to boards, aro laid on tho ..table, ahd'air opportunity will bo given at a later stage, in accordance with Rule No. 21, for any member . so desiring ,to. raise any question thereon. The surplus of assets (cash) which on September 30, 1905, amounted,.to £40.155. M.,. had on September ,30,' >'1906, ; increased, to £5.4 17s. Id. after providing for heavy legal and other expenses in connection with tho Harbours Superannuation Fund Bill. Meetings of Executive.,-',' ;v '/.'".' The Executive. Committee has held eleven meetings since the last conference, and has jilso interviewed the Minister for. Marine on five occasions, in-addition to which tho Pro"i aidenthas himself three times, and with .' the Chairman of the Lvtteltpn/'Harbjoiir,. Board once, seen tho Minister oil the'-busi--ness of the Association. .. President. ■.' ' According to a resolution of the first coni forence, the Chairman of tho Wellington -J Harbour Board, ox officio/ .'Was: elected Pre- ! sidont. of tho Association':- IvOni £he 1 retiro--1 ment of Mr: William Cable from the Chairmanship of tho Wellington -.Harbour; in February, 1906, "tho Hon'. T.'K.Macdonald,. M.L.C., became President "for tho time being. ' . / ,'• <■:• .'u -:V

, Harbour Boards Representation Bill. : " It had been anticipated that tho Minister , for Marine, the Hon. J. .'AV.'.MillarJKwould ; introduce this 'Bill during..! the,, '•■ Bion of 1906, and'as it seemed likely from the reply the Minister gave tho Executive when they waited on him oarly in August of last" year that the Bill might then shortly bo available, tho President was authorised to fix the date of and .convene,tho as soon as .Boards hadC bad. an- opportunity" of considering the Bill. The Bill was placed oh the Order Paper later jini'the Session, but; .was not circulated to the-House, and-this fact was given by the Marine Department to the Association, after the close of tho Scs-' sion, as a reason for hot supplying a copy of the Bill it could bo considered try Harbour Boards during tho recess. Again, in May and in June last "the'Exec'utive'in-" ' torviewed tho Minister on the matter, seeking a copy of the Bill, but without success. A Bill affecting the constitution...of—sevenboards was introduced to the Jlpuso on- . 'August 7 last, arid.was rj^d;.a ;t sejoiid",,J;ijno; on tho following day.vl'NJßxtj dajji copiesjwejo; available to tho Association'v arid wore oircu-' lated to Harbour Boards'. The members.of .the. Executive then in,' Wellington were 1 consulted,' and they decided;that, as tho Bill •affected' so few Boards, and was not of so general a., nature as had been anticip'ai'ed frbfii.ireiiiarks' let fall by' tho Ministers-it''Ms'* bet'tcFl not to convene the Conference until the Corisoli->. dation Bill,' which tho Minister had statedin the House ho hoped to introduce in about a week's time, was available The Executive held two meetings to discuss tho Constitution Bill, and on August. 14,.with a, number of delegates "who■!wero.then' in',-.Wellington, v waited on tho Minister and laidvbefore'-him-certain resolutions. Copies'of;-these resolutions and of the Minister's replies wero circulated to members, i,-,-> ":i • .. ;■-'■

Consolidation and Amendment of Harbours AfltS. i , •.,.... H *<-* This matter has becri Kept in view'by the Executive, and ! endeavours • have been''made" to ascertain whether the Government were taking any active steps towards, the preparation of a Bill, and if so how far the resolutions, passed at the "first and second Conferences had been adopted. When; interviewing tho Minister in May last ho statcd>hc.had' prepared a . preliminary draft of a Bill to consolidate and amend the Harbours Acts, but that the Bill had not been fully considered by himself, nor had it been before Cabinet, and ho did not think it probable that it would be introduced . during "the" 1907 Session.' As already ': mentioned,"the ; Minister has since modified this statement, ! and it now seems probable that the Bill will .-bo brought forward shortly.

Superannuation. ,:f, .';. ■; , The draft Bill submitted to tho 1905''Conference was, as a result of the discussion which then took place, considerably modified, and was finally printed and copies sent to all local bodies affected, together with copies of a report from the Actuary, Mr. Adams, and of correspondence, with the Marine Department, and of >a'certificate by the 'Association's 'solicitor. 'Replies wer'oTecbived from fourteen Harbour Hoards, which wore not, on tho whole/ as favourable a's\was"ox- : peered. fj»m tone 'of thV discussion '-at the Conference. A summary of these fourteen- replies shows that'only six supported the proposed Bill, and,that, eight were unfavourable, the reasons, given against support-!'; ing it being based on;a wide variety of grounds, some of-a.fundamentary character. It was thought : that,by tho adoption'of:,the, clauses making ' contribution '■:u'nd6r-''-Vth.a scheme optional at the instance of ,th6":Bbardon employees of ago forty and over'(yidb: provisos to Clause;. 16), the Bill 'wbiifd'.Vriiebt:! with a far wider approval than it.'bM-*.}Vhen' the Executive learnt how- divergerit'wero the views of tho Boards,'they-took thb-'opportu-nity when, with the Hon. Mr'.f.-Millar in August hist, 'of seeking that general powers of pensioning and of granting retiring allowances should bo included in tho.Consolidating and Amending Billj-as--.it seemed better, that such powers should, if possible, be obtained, as the Superannuation Bill in its then form was unlikely to meet with approval, than that the present unsatisfactory position should be continued. r To effect this purpose the following clauses were drafted and, after approval by the solicitor, wore submitted to tho Government for inclusion in the Consolidation and Amending Bill, then in course of ";,, - % \-. (1) Every Harbour Board mayi l out "of its Harbour. Fund, pension or make a retiring allowance to any of its employee's'Toii or after his' attaining the age of' sixty" years, and who has been continuously in its employ for at least the previous ten years. But such pension or retiring allowance shall not exceed one-third'of tho maximum annual rate of pay received by such employee during such previous ten years' service, and shall not exceed tho

sum of £250 per .annum. (2) Every Harbour Boanl_'maj;j time to time, make such ;|rog'u!at;ionsi' in [jtli'o form of By-Laws as;'. may...boi'necd"ssSry to. fjvo full force and effect to the a'bovo olauses provided, however, that such regulations shall not come into.Jorco-until they have been approved byiho'GoVeniOr-in-Council. ' Copies of tho.Bill aro laidjupon-the table; ond the matter ."issubmitted' for "full'dis-' Hussion. Conference Not Hold Last Year. With a view to ascertaining what matters Harbour Boards desired _to submjt,_for dis-, oussion the Executive-caused -lifqurries to. be made in June,' 190 G." The * result* was that only a small number of subjects was Bent in.' These remits were .considered jiy tho Executive, and it decided"tnatVjas'the Superannuation Bill was the only matter of wide importance, there was insufficient business offering to warrant the holding, of a Conference, unless it should happen that the

Government circulated the Representation Bill or any other moasuro of equal importance. „ As.has .already .been.explained, these -m"ejisures';dtd/;n<it cohi.&fotWatoT, apclji aceoicW Higly, /no iGonferencb' was/nt M;;' ;'; ?':'. ,I ".'' Industrial, Conciliation and Arbitration. The Shipmasters' Association made application in the Arbitration Court for- : an,award against the Wellington Harbour Board in December last, included in, tho demands, hewing one for a, "minimum salary '■' 'to- its Harbour Master; pilots, etc. Following' tho resolution adopted at last Conference, reading:— ' ■■• • "That if\tho'... Shipmaster's!,. Association of New Zealand cite airy affiliated Harbour Board heforo the Arbitration Court, the '■ Harbours- Association support it in rcsist- • ing ~ them, and in '-contesting a case ;to 'decide whether or not the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act' applies to harbour masters, piliota, ' and tug and drodgo masters," tho; Board fought,' tho case, oil- tho question, as't owheth'er the Shipmasters' Association had any locus under tho Act, and in the event obtained judgment in its own favour. The Harboiirs Association was represented at tho hearing of the case, and.subsequently forwarded copies of tho full'judgment to tho affiliated Boards. ,■ In-tho;lndustrial Conciliation and Arbitration ' Act 'Amendment Bill now before tho House is a clause deleting the words at .present* qualifying'a ." worker "-as one engagpd '■'.'. . to do any skilled or 'unskilled manual, ..'or-..clerical:, work. . ." These words •formed one of the:main grounds on which tho application of the Shipmasters' Association was refused. , Accordingly I, endeavoured to' get together',.a meeting "of tho. Executive to'givo'evidene'e!before the Labour Bills Committee, but a quorum was not iri town. ; Tho'-Logislation Committee of tho Wellington Harbour Board, however, took the matter up, and placed the position before the Labour' Bills Committee;' The Com-, mittee :has riot' yct'-Teportcd. '",

Expiry of Executive,-'.--.- ' Owing to thero being no meeting of the Association Jast^yoar-an.•.opportunity did not present/itself /of. electing. »'a. now 'Executive Committee, whoso two-years'., term of offico expired in August, 1906. The Associated Harbour Boards were consulted. by circular on tho matter and unanimously, agreed that, as under the rules the retiring Committee v continued jn office until their, sucft was nqiy'of jsuffi-' cient moment''to' necessitate a special'meeting of the Association. Tho original Execu'tive; which was elected' in"August;'■■'-•laOS,' •.aro,.:*liQr.efor(s, I '.still;\in office',: and it will bo .the,duty of .jthc present Cpnferencc to elect newnumbers'.' ." '.'..'.,._..^ ;Legal;;Ppiriipnß.^ : r ;■;•,,. .;;,:.;,.>•,''..'. .-v.. ~■..,••'! .-'.;.' Advantago.l'has ; been, takon-i by'.•.-Harbour Boards,.in,three or.,four;instances, of Ride No 16,"under Which joints affecting"'members '■generally,.'or the rights and powers of any-particular member 1 ;-"may bo submitted for the .opinion, of tho solicitor to the Association. These opinions have been obtained, ..and hav.o been,.in the o .first .instance forwarded:! for 'the'; jnforiniitiiorf- 'of i tho .'-Board primarily affected, and subsequently''copies have been»,.oirqulatod -for !"thq- general information of members.'The Executive considers that considerable, additional advantage would 'accrue to''member's-'if particulars of legal opinions obtained from their own solicitors, and of other'matters of interest (details of which do not appear in tho newspapers) were forwarded to the. secretary' for circulation amongst affiliated Boards. For tho Executive Committee, V. Louis _Cf,ch.emaille.,_.Sccretaiy.. . L'SSj - v;-o.rd-er.--.p : aper. ; & ti;'i.: «ii-t,i , it. i ,-w- -«:p pft , *i p ■£, S?t,i; of Remits." *>~y,-: . « •■■/> ■-■ Tjio order .-of, the .-business,: ,will „bo' as... follows:.'.! (1)'- President.'.'to--' welcome delegates 'and'" open" Conference ~,(2) 'secretary to read Report l ,.(3)«iio.tifies^6£,limotioi] ' £A)' .statement" ipf•>'iccoirnts';t'-'! tt { t,'' &. ..& . f";|J5-J ££•£$ £'j '' The'Exccutive Comyiittco.report that they recommend)tho 1 CoMeronco«as follows: —

Borrowing- Powers?* '■ That''in^additibri v . to''th'd'borrowing powers which:-Harbour ','Bqards;;alropdy possess ,un:der .'Sections. 187''to '200 ol;" Tjie'-Harbdnrs' .'Act;,'.Mßi"B ) ...!'.''tlio'.. fibve'rhmeril;,' iii amending Acts, bel.a.sk'cd'to; provide tho power to issud inscribcd„stock,,'and'tho.power' by arrangement with the holders to, call ;iii." either.alportion', or 'the whole of a', series of debentures'..already,-issued, or, to be-issucd,. and to} subs|-itutp; inscribed stock, therefor'." '

::.:.:.':: rem l JS', RECei v e'd. Electoral Rolls: That the provisions of Section 37 of the Harbours ..Act, 1875, ..bo. enlarged so as to make it clear that local governing bodies shall supply. copies of rolls .to the Harbour BoardVrcturning .officor on reasonable ' ; ,oxpcnSes.;-j;(Bluff.) n- ; -Grants •■ of,. Reclaimed Land: That anamendment! lie sought in tho Harbours Act, ,1878,. by repealing Section.,lsl, and by substituting the' following'cl:«ise ; in'- lieu-.therepf: • —""'J'Jjq Governor-ih-Council : may,- in tho namc"'and, on behalf "of iHis"\Majesty, grant to any Board' the lands . which such Board is authorised to reclaim from tho sea or • from.'any-navigable'lake-'or river under or by virtue of tho Act, 1878, or any "amendment thereof,;'or: ; of a'special Act or 'of -a' special order made :; -or\granted-by tho • G'overnor-in-Council'."—(Ot'ago;)

Harbour Improvement Kate: That the Government be asked in amending the Harbours Act to make it clear that Section 216 of the Harbours Act, 1878, relating to the Harbour Improvement Rate, is not limited in-, its^effect-or. governed by Section 120 — (\Vellington-4Napjer.) ?i ?'! ;■' ■;„• |v :. l r oresnore';ljicehses: Q?hat ,'•'..tho'. ..'alternate. Sections 8, 9, and 14, of tho Harbours Act Act, -1884- bo amejjichjd-to pro-. ■vide that 'tho;'sold' pow'er.-Ho issiio-license's ,>W vested in the Board having jurisdiction, in the-harbour in£.auestion. — (Otago.)' ■ EoreshbreVlneeiises: That Harbour Boards of land rehaving to get thd v consent -'of'.lthe 1 V'Govoriior by Order-in- . Council: 'leases - auction o'l'.-tender;—- (Tlmme^; ; j!%; ■ ;_post'; : Streets': That Scc.■tipn"..BXo^tH'br.li£rl)&cire>^cirvJ':lß7B Amcnd- : as to probctweon the Harbour' Board" ami ' t-h'btlocal authority as, to tho amount to bo cbjitributed by the Board under or by said Section, such dispute shall be referred to and bo determined by the Minister,! whoso decision shall be final. —(Otago.) Reaffirming Previous Resolutions:- -That tlie' resolutions of the Conference "lis agreed upon at the meeting held in Wellington on August 10, 1905, be reaffirmed, and that strong representation bo made : to the Government "of the "desirability of amending the Harbours Act in the directions especially sought" in resolutions Nos. 2 (ropaymontof dues by Government), 3 (Government to pay, stornge *and for services rendered), and 4 (re-vesting of unalienated; lands).,- oiv page 3 'of the printcdi "prbccc'diiigs rat tho 1905 Conference.—(Otago.;

_ ...-Manning.of Dredges:.; To.obtain legislation -providing ''tliat. .dredges': sliall' bo placed in n separate category in the Shipping and Seamen's Act, and 4 not be required to carry more than one navigating officer per shift ---master or mate as tho. case-may bo—whon working in the vicinity of harbours administered by the Board to which they belong. -(Bluff.)

Gcnoral Conditions of Contract: That a universal set of contract conditions for 'the use of all-fla'rbour Boards' -he p'repared -by the! Harbpurs when any Act oV'ActS "are "paSs'ed "affecting siich conditions the association immediately apprise the various Harbour Boards, thereof. ";!".', 'L'L'S -« i.-' ■;..." Constitution: That the following resolutions, adopted, by;. Conference, _on. '-Adjust .:3, .1904,'. : rola.tin'(JC'-'to-•-Iho1ho- constitii'tioii-'Ot'Har-bour Boards be rescinded:—(2) That in respect to Harbour Boards which have no rating powers the basis of representation shall bo as follows:—(a).'.■ Owners of ships and payors of dues of £3 and upwards per annum., (b) ..ljn.fppayors„o.f ijriucijjal city, .and. of; seaport *'j (o) of 'jjrin-; cip.il cit.j' or ''chairman' of" principal town board, (d) Members to bo returned by Counfty Councils and. Boroughs' within the;' district, and that the! following be adopted in the place thereof: —(2) That in respect to Harbour Boards having no rating powers tho constitution, of such Boards-.should remain as" at "present.—(Waifcafa.)""

Public Revenues Act, 1893: That the Government be requested in any amendment of the Harbours Acts to insert a clauso enab;iiul(sHarl)our Boards to contribute towards rthc-'.Vaief of shipwrecked mariners in Now Zculand.—(Waitara.) Tolls on Passengers: That tho Government he askod, in amending the legislation relating to Harbour Boards, to make it clear that Harbour Boards have the right to levy tolls on passengers.—(Wellington.) .'.Formation of Streets: That an amendment bo sought in Suctions 116 and 117 of The Public Works Act, 1905," so as to relieve Harbour Boards from the necessity of forming streets and constructing drains on reclaimed lands prior to tho registration of the sulxlivisional plans—(Otago). Travelling Expenses to Meetings: That it ■is.expedient that Section 21 of "Tho Harbours Act 1878 Amendment Act, 1886, should be amended, so as to allow members attending Board meetings to bo paid at 'tho discretion of a full Board meeting a fixed amount instead of actual expenses, as it is very irksome, and sometimes almost impossible;.; to produce vouchors for actual travelling expenses.—(Westport.) Travelling Expensos of Deputations: That it is expedient.that Section No. 51 of "Tho Harbours Act, 1878," should be amended, so that it will bo legal for Boards in their wisdom to pay the travelling expenses of members who may visit Wellington as a deputation' to the Government on Harbour Board matters, it being at tho present time held by the Crown law officers that such payments are'illegal, notwithstanding tho provisions of Section 9 of "The Harbours Act 1878 Amendment Act, 1886."—(Westport.) Public Revenues Act, 1893: That the Government be requested to amend the Harbours Acts in such a manner as will make it legal for Harbour Boards to contributo yearly donations where so desired, limited to a certain figure based on each Board's annual revenue, to tho Shipwreck Relief Society of New Zealand, as it appears that such ,an expenditure is considered to be illegal at present.—(Westport.)

'recommendations. The Executive .Committee report that thoy recommend tho Conference: — Taxation for Hospitals and Charitnblo AidT That the Conference, disapprove of the proposal referrcd.to in a report of a meeting of the Wellington Hospital trustees on July ;16 last, that Harbour Boards bo made contributing bodies under the- Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards Act, and that a v copy, of this resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Public Health. Borrowing Powers: To seek that the provisions of •Section. 191 of.the Harbours Act, 1878, be enlarged, so as to enable Harbour Boards to issue singlo debentures for., a-sum exceeding one thousand pounds. \ Superannuation: .To again, urge upon the Government tho necessity of embodying in the proposed Harbour Board ' legislation such powers as will enable the Harbour Boards of tho Dominion to establish a : superannuation scheme for their employees. ,