HARBOUR BOARDS ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 268, 1 August 1918, Page 7

HARBOUR BOARDS ASSOCIATION

1, THE SEVENTH CONFERENCE

BIG SHEAF OF REMITS | The seventh conference of the New I Zealand Harbour Boards Association was I held yesterday. Mr. (.'. E. Uaiiiell presided, and some forty delegates were preliOlll. The chairman welcomed the delegates to the conference, and silr.ii. welcomed Ihe Hon. T. M. W'ilford. who was present to address the conference, ,11c said that the boards were fortunate in having at the head of the Marine Department a gentleman who had had considerable- experience of harbour administration—as a member of the Wellington Jlailmur Board for. ten year-;, as chairman for (wo years, as chairman of one conference, as'M'nyor of Wellington, anil as iegal adviser for the Union Coiiipniiv for some years. With all those qualifications they had reason to hone that the Minister would appreciate the wishes uf the conference. Government "Patronage." Mr. lluniell said thai; biirbuur boards wen: in a <iogrec under the patronage of I ho Government,'and in this respect were as locgj bodies in a peculiar position. The Government was direful of vested, interests, even if they were tin) interests of overseas concerns. Tho Government thought it wise thai the gentlemen iu control of these interests sliould have a guiding hand in the administration of harbour boards. Payers of dues had Ihe protection of special representation. Under these conditions, what could be tho answer bo to a demand from Labour for special representation? Ilis own ) personal feeling was. in favour of the abolition, of special representation, and the election of all members on the Parliamciitaiy franchise. For this Government patronage with which they were favoured, hoards had to pay dearly. The Government Departments made free use of harbour board stores, and when tho Post Office was making mail contracts the condition was attached that the ships used in tho service should pay no dues. This was not fair. Why should one section of tho community's administration havo to pay white another escaped? This rule had made conditions almost impossible for some harbour boards. The Government was running ships as cargo carriers simply, ami refused to pay dues on these ships, in the case of Wellington Harbour Board the value of wharfage exemptions during the war period had amounted to ,£M,MS, of which ..!;i2,G10 was for coal imports. Ordinary commercial houses would have lo pay these dues. How wore the boards to carry ou under such conditions?' It seemed to him that as business men they would have to say to the Government that this could :iot be. The value of storage incurred i:y the Government and not paid was .•£,12-73. He hoped that boards would try hard to get rid of this Government patronage. It had been shown that boards were not unable to do their own business, even although tho ■members of them wero all voluntary workers. The conference was addressed by the Minister of .Marine (the Hon. T. M.' Wilford), his address being noted elsewhere in this issue. Constitution of Boards. The conference then proceeded to consideration of remits :-r Thu following remit from the Bluff Board was carried without discussion:— 'Thai the Government he requested to amend section 8, clause 1, of the Harbours Amendment Act, 11(10, so as to provide that in the ease of elections for members to represent the electors of counties on harbour hoards, the elections shall be held on Ihe, same day as the triennial elections for members to represent the electors upon county councils, provided that in Ihe case of combined districts the Minister of Internal Affairs shall determine whether the election shall be held on the day of the borough election or of tho county election." This Lyt.teltou remit was carried unanimously :—"Thai the conference affirms the opinion that tho principle of Government nominees on harbour boards is unsound." Mr. J. W. M'Ewaii moved tho following remit on behalf of Wellington:"That it is dcsirablo to abolish all special representation in the constitution of harbour boards, and that the Government be requested lo .amend the llarraurs Act in, this direction, all members of boards to be elected on the parliamentary suffrage basis." The remit provoked a great ileal of discussion. The ease against special representation found but few opponents, but there were those who said that tho representatives of special interests on boards had been gentlemen of business ability, whose ndvico had been of Ihe greatest value. On the other hand, one delegate from Otagn declared that the representatives of special interests were generally more anxious to protect Vheir interests than the interests of the port. On the other question of the parliamentary franchise, it was urged Unit there were excellent men now on boards who would not he troubled to face an election on the pnrliumontury franchise. It was also urged that in ihe case of harbours in which the Government had special interests, us at Wcslpurl, or iu the ease of artificial harbours built: out of loan--moneys secured on country lands, the parliamentary franchise would not be just. The Government must havo nominees on Ihe lward controlling the Government harbours, and in the case of harbours of Ihe other class tho ratepayers who found the nionev should keep conlml of affairs. In answer lo that. Mr. Veitch, M.J'., contended that al,' moneys were found in the end bv the eonsuineis, and not bv the owners of property. To the end the chairman agreed to divide the remit into two clauses. He put. first, the section proposing to abolish all special representation. This was carried Jhy IS votes lo 11. The proposal to elect all members on the parliamentary franchise was then discussed. Ore of the objections mentioned to (he present: system of voting is that iu counties there'is » ratepayers' franchise, and in Ihe boroughs a residential franchise, and thai this operated lo the detriment of counties in combined districts in which a county was grouped with a borough. An amendment to' except from the operation of the proposal all districts in which artificial harbours had been built on loan moneys secured on rales on land, and to retain the present tonstitution in the-e cases, was rejected by l'J votes to 12. Another amendment to haw ali elections on a ratepayers' franchise, was defeated on the voices. The original remit was then put, and it was negatived. Forciipi-owned Ships. "That the altenlion of the Government, bo drawn to the conditions existing with reference to foreign-owned ve-sels. with (he object that the position may 'lie reviewed," was submitted in place of three others from Aiic'tlnnd, malting piopo-uls for (liilYreulial dues against foreignowned vessels, and for the levying of dues ou foreign ships of war. Subsequently an'amendment was accepted, which in general terms recommended the Government lo make distinction between British and foreign vessels iu the mailer of the levying <f dues. Exempted Vessels. The following remits asking for tho itilhdrawal of exemption on ships of various classes were curried:— "That Section llli H) M <'f lh« lf«''bours Act, I!HW. be amended lo provide thai trawlers and whalers shall pay harbour dues; , . "That the words 'vessels engaged in whale fisheries' be deleted from Section 117 of the Harbours Act. IMS; "That Section Ilti (1) of tho Harbours Act, 1008, be amended to provide that Government vessels and others exempted from payment of harbour dues shall at least: pay out-of-pocket expenses in connection 'with docking or slipping; "That the. Government be requested to amend the Harbours Act so that Government vessels, coal hulks, transports earning freight, and other Government vessels nngn<'cil.iii commercial trading shall pav all harbour dii''s and license fees in the "aiue manner as ordinary mercantile vc.-'-selst "That tho Government bo re.crwsled lo amend tho Harbours Act, I'JOS, so that

' (Tnvernineiil coal hulks and other Oovern- ' mentor Imperial vessels engaged in com-inei-cial Hading shall pav harbour dues and licenses on the. same basis as oriiui-iiiei-cliiiiil vessels; . ' "That Hie Government be requested to ! amend the Harlxmrs Act. IMS so that vessels carrving His Majesty s mails shall nut be exempt from harbour due,. Dues on Goods. Dealing willi dues on Government I goods, the following remits ivore passe, :- ! ' "Thit Section (W of the Harbours Act, I Y.m, be amended to provide, thai harbour I dues shall be leviable on deck cargoes ••Thai tin. Oovei-niiienl be requested to amend the Harbours Act so that all ilovernmeiit gouds pacing over or iiMng 11,,. boards' „hnrvo3 shall pay dues in the same manner as ordinary merwmtiio '''■Wimib.r remit relating to Ihe payment of storage by the (ioverni.ieiu- was carried. Miscellaneous Remits. The following other remits were, car''Enforcing Payment of the Harbours Act be altered to provide tlial: For the purpose of enforcing payment ol harbour dues in respect of any goorls carried in nnv ship, the manifest ol sueli ship shall be prima facie evidence as to the consignee ot consignor of such gooiis. Coinpcnsalion for -.Land 'laken.- J ha - Section 1211. Clause :1. of the larbour-. Act lflllS, as follows: 'Provided tiiiil where the land i« taken for road or ra. - v.av purpose- such compensation slul noi ,-xceed Hie ainounl: whi<h toe boar< lias aeluallv laid out upon ''he said land ~ill„,, l-,„- c„.| of reclamation «.r otherwise in perninneiifly improving im N '| l iabilitv'l''ir'pi l lolage or Port Charge*. -"That ihe Harbours Act be amemled i„ provide that: Jn respect ol ?o™' ? »»• der 100 lons intended lo be existed imm anv port: in Ihe Dominion and tor the shipping of which the board shall have satisfied itself I Hat there is no vessel available other than a vessel whicb would, by shipping *»<* ~E™ " ,' liable to nilotage and port, charges such vessel mav in Ihe discretion ol lie'ioa. I be exempted from liability tor l''!'; 1 "^. 1 port, charges by reason onlv ol lis shipping such good's, provided that, in addition In the harbour improvement rat,. I.avable under Ihe bylaws bv the person* L-'ime of them referred to in Secli „ 10., of Ihe prineinal Act. there shall be payable lo Ihe board by Ihe persons or onr „t' them referred lo in Section 1«-t o llw liriuc-ip.il Act a special olinr_i> «f irli.ii tnge of ss. per lon of such goods; and. in addition therein, the sum of .IM. Surcharges by Shipping < ompanie.-.-"In view (it ihe practice of various sin - ping companies surcharging '» •»»; iiei„ M and consignors he various elm.grs made by harboin; boards nude statutory authority. Hie Harbours Act 1.; nm „ m!l „j a, prohibit ot such irritating practices. Limitation of Dues.-"ThaMh; lit I schedule lo Ihe Harbours .-\rr, )-M. n<repealed, so as to remove Ihe liunlaion of dues on vessels." "Use of Cattle and Stockyards- t licit section 207, Harbours Act. WON "'"1 Amendment Act. 1010 (section ,1-0, be so amended as to make clear Ihe power o harbour Iwards to make cbai-.;es .or ami regulation for the use of eafti:- ami stuckvards." ... \cquirement of Lnnds.-"That the iollowiii" section be substituted for section Kill, Harbours Act, 11)08. and section 1-10. as amended bv Harbours Amendment Act. 1010:-(1) Every harbour board mav from time to time acquire by purchase, lease, or otherwise,'or lake under the provisions of the Public Works Act, IiHIS: (a) any lands, buildings, or easement, or any interest therein required for the purpose of obtaining access to . or n frontage to a public road for any Tiircshore or other land vested in it, or for or in connection with any undertaking which such board is, by the principal Act or any special Act', or any Order-in- ', Council, iiiade and granted under the pro- . visions of t,ho principal Act, iiiilhorised to enter into, including any undertaking mentioned in section t-J7 of Ihe principal Act,, and including haiT.vour works; (b) any earth, stone, boulders, gravel, sand, or other material oft', from, or out of any land for Ihe purpose of using the same in or about any such undertaking, and whether .-uch land be acquired or

".'(2) Nothing herein contained shall bo deemed to limit ihe powers of a board by virtue of the Public AVnr'ks Act 11)03; " '(3\ This section is in s-.ili-titutioii for section J.K! of the principal Act and that part of ihe fourth schedule to the Harbours Amendment Aid, 11)111, which repeals sec-lion IJO of the priirrpal Act, and substitutes another sect in.i in lieu I hereof, and the said section 16!). and the said part of the said fourth schedule are accordingly hereby repealed.'" Foreshores.—"That provision be made for vesting all foreshores lying within the limits of iho respective !ri:!ioiirs, as at present defined by Acts or by Orders-in-Council, in the harbour boards." Receipts on Deposit.—"That power to receive money on deposit and pay interest on the same be granted to harbour boards on the same basis p at present held by municipal corporations; that tho Harbours Act, 1008, be amended by making provision for vesting in a luirliour board power, in any case where it is deemed- advisable by such board that any sum of money at credit of its general or special loan or an other account be placed on clepssit at interest, to deposit such sum of money at ir.:.-rest with any local authority." Special Rales—"That Parliament be asked for power to authorise other local l.'odies to collect special rates :-.i: the same time. as.they collect their own rates, so as to prevent the annoyance and inconvenience to ratepayers through receiving several separate notices, n charge to be made by such collecting Tody as may be fixed" Shipping and Seamen's Act.—"That. Se;iio-i 30 of the Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment Act, 1000, be amended to provide that before a certificated engineer can Like charge of a ship ho shall be required to pass an examination in seiimniishiii, rule, of the road, etc." The conference adjourned until 9 a.m. to-day.