HARDSHIP TO HARBOUR BOARDS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 237, 25 June 1918, Page 6

HARDSHIP TO HARBOUR BOARDS

PORT DUES ON TRANSPORTS GOVERNMENT DECLINES TO PAY 'the war, which has altered many things, has incidentally considerably curtailed tho income of New Zealand harbour boards by the Government's refusal to pay the ordinary port dues 011 vessels which thth- have under charier, or which visit our ports on Imperial business. There have been eases here and there where the Government lias paid a percentage of the harbour dues, but in tho large majority of cases the Government authorities have refused to recognise any liability in the matter of port due's against Government chartered or employed vessels. Tho Government aisu refuses to pay pilotage dues, which are tor personal services rendered. 111 -February of last year particulars were received in New Zealand as to the arrangement mado by the British Government with the various dock and haroor.r authorities of the United Kingdom. iJriefly, the terms of the agreement were that the Imperial Government would pay 75 per cent, of tho ordinary tariff of port, harbour, and dock dues on sliips, carrying munitions or naval or military stores, or on naval transports, mine-sweepers, patrol ships, etc.; and IftO per cent, of port, harbour, and dock dues on requisitioned and prize shops carrying cargo not being munitions or naval or military stores; also full dues on ships carrying eoal for the Navy. The Imperial Government, it is noted, furthei agreed to pay ordinary tariff charges for graving docks, towage, cranage, etc., ana in regard to goods and stores, consented to be treated in the same manner as ?n ordinary trader. The agreement coirio to between the Imperial Government and the British harbour authorities was, further more, made retrospective from August •f, 1914 (the day war was declared against Germany). Disagreement at Homo. The latest phase of the Home arrangement set forth in the following is an extract from Lloyd's List (London), of February 22 last:— "The committee appointed by the representatives r.f the dock and harbour authorities of Great Britain and Ireland met on Tuesday, February 19, at the London offices of tho Mersey Dock and Harbour Board. Sir ,Hugh Bell, M.P. presided (in the alienee of Mr. T. P. O'Connor, M.P.). A discission took place with regard to the general settlement which has been arrived at between the Government and the dock, etc., authorities as (0 the payment of dues on goods and ships for, and on, State service, and it was stated that there were differences of opinion as to tho interpretation to be put npon some portions of the agreement. Tho Government authorities had apparently been claiming right to place their own construction upon it. The dock representatives felt this to be somewhat unfair, and it was decided to suggest thnt an arbitrator be appointed to settle all questions in dispute arising out of the terms of tho arrangement. The Cork ITarbotir Commissioners and the Medway authorities vere, it was stated, pressing for payments which tho Admiralty refused to concede. Soma questions had also arisen as to how far, when cargo is carried in unregistered spaces, tho Admiralty are liable to pay ships' duo on such cargo, and it was decided to leave this matter to the arbitrator if one was agreed upon. It was further agreed to send out a circular to all tho docks and harbours of the country setting fortli in detail the points on whisk thero was, in the agreement, no dispute with tho Government officials. The question of how far the agreement with the British Government oliould bo applied to Colonial Governments was discussed, and tho committee felt it would only be rea6ouablo to give "iho sanio tcnus to ail. As to how far the Government was responsible for the removal of wrecks in harbours was n- matter deferred for further consideration, and Mr. R. D. Holt, M.P,, was asked to see Mr. Stailey Baldwin with regard to the Government agreement to the arbitration proposal. An opinion mas expressed by the committee that the dock and harbour authorities of the 'United Kingdom should be brought closer together 011 many matteis affecting their interests, aud it was decide! to summon a general meeting to meet about the middle of nex,t month.

Local Executive's Opinion. The following report presents the arguments of the executive of the Harboui Boards' Association in their appeal tor more generous treatment:— "1. That the matter resolves itself into two sections —(a.) Dues on vessels cariyin" goods, and (b) dues on goods carried iuN'essels. It is in respect to Section (a) that the harbour boards are mainly concerned. To obtain the necessary revenue upon which to carry on operations dues are levied by harbour boards on an equitable basis against both vessels and goods. Therefore, any wholesale exemption from payment of dues of either goods or vessels disturbs this balance, and places the boards in tho position of eitner having to obtain their working revenue from one section only or carry on at a loss. "•I. During the first few months of the war, vessels in ordinary trade neie requisitioned by the Government ior use as troopships, such vessels and the stoiea and military material carried by them being claimed by the Defence Department as exempt from all harbour dues and charges. Later on some of these vessels, having refrigeration spaces, were used to also convey frozen meat and produce abroad. Although tho boauts received wharfage dues upon cargo curried in these vessels the Government refused to pay the harbour dues incurred and ehargoaljlo on such vessels, although they were carrying mostly freight-earunig car»o. Likewise, New Zealand colliers, loaSing coal for Admiralty purposes, were claimed as exempt from harbour dues. Similar exemptions were also claimed for vessels loading whole cargoes of frozen meat-for the Home authorities, and, again, New Zealand military transports have carried, as cargo, large quantities of New Zealand produce, and the Government has refused to pay ninboiu dues on such vessels. ";i. The result is that the harbour boards have been deprived of a great part of their ordinary revenue from regular oversea traders, which, although primarily used in tho conveyancc of troops and stores, also'carried away from New Zealand as cargo the principal exports of the Dominion that, in pre-war tunes would have been to a very large extent convened in ships liable to full dues. Further, the revenues of harbour boards generally have been seriously affected by the shrinkage in volume of imports coming to New Zealand, and the unsteady nature of the export trade, through' war conditions, and in addition to tins problem some boards have been put in the position oi having to provide accommodation and facilities for a considerable tonnage of non-paying vessels. "I. To meet what has evidently been a similar difficulty in Great Britain the Imperial Liovenmient has agreed to pay dues to harbour and dock authorities on a mutually satisfactory basis. "a. That the clauses in the Harbours Act exempting Government vessels and cargoes from tho payment of harbour dues were framed without the experience of a great war, and that the abnormal conditions which have arisen since August, 19M, constitute' good grounds ior the request by the association for similar treatment being meted or.t to the Dominion Harbour boards to that accorded by the Imperial Government to the British port authorities." It might here be mentioned that the association has evidently received the unsolicited support of Hie committee representing the dock and harbour authorities of the United Kingdom, which, in February last, being called together tu discuss questions involving the interpretation of its agreement with the luiperinl Government, is reported" ■as follows-.— The question of how far the agreement with the British Giiu'riiiiient should be applied to colonial Governments wns 'dismissed, and ihc committeo frit it would only be reasonable to give the same terms to all.