OUR HARBOURS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 25, 24 October 1907, Page 8

OUR HARBOURS.

ASSOCIATION DELEGATES AT LUNCHEON." ' / INTERESTING ADDRESSES. The delegates attending the conference of the Harbours' Association were entertained at luncheon yesterday by the Hon. T. K. Macdqnald. There was a very largo attendance in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, and the function passed off most pleasantly.

The Hon. T. K. Macdonald presided, and amongst the guests were the Premier, Mr. Massey (Leader of the Opposition), the Hon. T. \V. ilislop (Mayor of Wellington), the Hon. G. Fowlds. (Minister for Education), the Hon. J. A. Millar Minister for Marine), and Dr. Findlay (Attorney-General).

VALUE OF THE CONFERENCE. After the loyal toast, Mr. J. E. Watson (lilulf) proposed "Tho Parliament." In doing so he expressed the gratitude of visiting delegates for the warm hospitality extended by tho Hon. T. K. Macdonald and the Wellington Harbour Board. The conference, he was confident, would fully justify its existence. There was a very important Consolidation Bill being brought down, for one thing, and it was highly important that all tho grounds should be fully covered before it became law. A conference of this kind stimulated interest in the work of the local bodies, and could not fail to be of use. Rcforring to the Premier, he said'they were very proud of him in the south, and felt they had a first mortgage on him. Tho Dominion had a very robust Ministry—the Opposition must consider it was scandalously health.} - — but they would be lost without the Oppovtion, and in Mr. Massey the Government had a. vigilant and honourable opponent, who was strictly impersonal i]i any opposition Jie. folt called upon to offer. SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. In responding, Sir Joseph AVard said it was very satisfactory to find representatives of such useful institutions gathered together, tor.the purpose of improving the administration of Harbour Boards. There was a spirit of active omuletion and competition.amongst the various ports, but they were all ready to shake hands and meet , together for,a common purpose. They undoubtedly did good work in helping to shape legislation which must bo valuable to their respective communities. Continuing, the Premier said it was tho duty of the Administration to aij those who tried, to have .transmitted it-t long distances the products of the district which their ■ harbour served'. A spirit of local patriotism should bo fostepd, so as to make shippers realise that their own particular port was the best in the Dominion. They ought to assist the development of trade in their own districts. It was the duty of Parliament'to pay respect to the united representations made iii connection with the Harbour Boards Consolidation Bill by the gentlemen of long experience whom he saw around him. Roferring to the gathering the Premier said they were met undei the happiest auspices. . On his right was the Leader of the Opposition, and on his left Mr; Massoy had an extreme Socklist (Mr. liaurenson), and on his right a gentleman of extreme respectability (Dr. Findlay). There were all shades of opinion in the House, but no matter' how..they differed politically,"they sank all differences arid stood together ivhen meeting for the common good. In time of crisis they presented a united front inside Parliament and outside. That had helped to .make New Zealand famous, not only for its produce,, but for its Parliamentarians! " "v"

.REMARKS BY MR. MASSEY. Mr. Massey said that w!aen he came along ho was surprised to find himself on the toast list. No doubt the chairman—himself an old Parliamentarian —considered that a politician ought to be, ready to speak on anv occasion and on any subject. (Dr. Findlay: And to any length). After the last six weeks' struggle with the Land Bill he was glad, for a rest, to have something to do with the laws of the sea. After a jocular reference to the Premier as "the member for . -bluff," Mr. Massey said, the Harbour Boards -were amongst the most important of local bodies. The work they did in providing accommodation' for trading vessels, and. facilities for the satisfactory handling of exports and imports was most valuable to the colony. Wellington must be acknowledged as leading tho way, but Auckland was rapidly coming Up. The trade and commerce of the Dominion wero increasing very rapidly, and would continue to-do so, and it fell to.the Harbour Boards to provide for that trade. As to the Harbour Board Bill before Parliament he could tell them'in confidence that ho did not think much of it. But if the conference could give the House their advice and experience they, would bo able to put upon the Statute Book a Bill that would be a benefit and a credit to the Dominion. I THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.

, In proposing the Marino Department Mr.' Laurenson, M.H.R., emphasised the onerous and increasing duties of the Department, function after function had been added to it during the past few years. It was now carrying out a system of inspection which he trusted would bo extended until thero was a yearly inspection of nil vessels, colonial as well as over-sea, Referring to the increase of tonnage in the shipping, he stated that in • 1876, S7l vessels cleared New Zealand outwards, with an average tonnage. of 441 tons. In 1905, 671 vessels cleared outwards;' but the tonnage averaged ICOO,- 1800, and 2100 tons. Mr. Laurenson.urged in conclusion that a more complete survey of the ports of tho Dominion was required. MR. MILLAR ON, LIGHTHOUSES. In responding the Minister for Marine (tho Hon. J. A. Millar), claimed that the real main roads of the Dominion wero the harbours; without them the inland roads would be practically valueless. Therefore the Harbour Boards . wore; to hit niind, doing the greatest work in the country. The Marim .Department was sometimes blamed because there was delay in carying out suggo-::.v.s mailc by Harbour Boards, but work of-;Viut kind could not be done in five minutes. JSVith the aid of the Harbour Doards, the Marine Department had prevented any serious mistakes being made. The Department would have to turn its attention now to the, lights ing and surveying of the coasts. Tho lighting of the coasts was the most important work of all. But tho Department h.rl to do i> great deal of work that was done hi , private capital in other countries. He hoped, year by year, to get a sufficient sum place' on the Estimates to provide duo or two' lighthouses; thoroughly equipped. The Min-' istor enlarged on the gravo dangers of hatllv lightd coasts, and said h sincerely trusted that each year he would be nblo' to equip one first-class lighthouse, which would cost about £'10,000, exclusive of maintenance. ■ He hnrl hoped to lnive the survnying of the const in epn oitartybihiissbrdeta bsrtshret const in operation by this time, but the Admiralty had not. been alilo to spare a vessel for the purpose. He hoped the work would bo taken up shortly, however. : Sir Joseph Ward proposed the health of tho chairman, and jocularly complimented Mr. Mnodonnld on his skill in keeping such a festive gathering well in hand.

In responding, the chairman said it was always a pleasure to take part in such conferencss.