INTERESTS OF SHIPPING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 837, 8 June 1910, Page 8

INTERESTS OF SHIPPING.

HARBOUR. BOARD REPRESENTATION. DEPUTATION TO HON. J.A.MILLAR. (By Telcsraph—Press Asaoclatlon.l Auckland, June 1: A deputation from the Auckland branch of tho Shipowners' Federation waited upon the Minister for Marine (the Hon. J. A. Millar) to-day. Mr. T. 11. White (president of the federation) explained that the deputation desired to call the attention of tho Minister to several anomalies in regard to the administration of 'tho Auckland Harbour Board. ' The board had recently increased its charges, but the burden fell almost entirely on tho shipping interests. Mr. \V. G. Smith said the present system of Pfarbour, Board representation was an anomaly. He called attention to the board's methods of business, and instanced the Ivaipara mishap as a caso in point. Sites for ships could only be securcd under the most impossible terms of tenancy, and ho asked for some protection in these matters. 'Mr. G/V. Houghton , (manager of the New Zealand Shipping Company) and Mr.' Bradney spoke strongly in favour 01 better representation for shipping on tho board. Tho Minister, in reply, said the Government intended again to introduce the Harbour Administration Act next session. He did not know that the deputation would get all it wanted, but the shipping interests would, under the new Act, be able to elect one direct representative. He was not'in favour of'large boards, and he thought 14' quite enough. What he had heard that" day strengthened his belief that the Government was right in retaining ; the power to .'elect Government nominees on the board. Mr. Alison: It would be all right if you appointed the right men. Continuing, Mr. Millar said that if the board commenced piling up the dues on shipping, then it remained for the companies to put up freights. Shipping companies were not philanthropic institutions, and if the board handicapped shipping it would, come back on the public in the long run. The weight should be.eveuly distributed between the two. If this' port was a transhipping port it would feel the pinch, for no vessel, under the existing state of affairs, would stay more than a day in the port if it could be helped. There was a great future before Auckland, and it behoved the Harbour Board to pursue a policy consistent with the development of the port. He* trusted that in the future there would be less cause for complaint in regard to the actions of the Harbour Board than there was to-day.