TWO PATENT SLIPS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 9

TWO PATENT SLIPS

Wellington Harbour Board Takes Over TERMS OF SETTLEMENT “I am now in a position to announce publicly the details of the final settlement of the rather long negotiations which have taken place with the Union Steam Ship Company and the Fatent Slip Company in regard to the patent slip properties,” said the chairman, Jlr. T. R. Banner, at a meeting of the 'Wellington Harbour Board last night.

As far back as May, 1933, a committee of the board, consisting of the chairman, with Jlessrs. Norwood Fletcher and Semple, was set up to begin negotiations with those companies in reference'to: —(a) The taking over of the first patent slip as from September 30, 1933; (b) compensation for the second patent slip and other authorised improvements; (c) lease of defined area (occupied by repair shops, laundry, etc.) ; (d) license of adjacent repair wharf; (e) the running of the two patent slips. Since then the committee with the solicitor to the board, Mr, J. F. B. Stevenson, and the officers of the board, had devoted much time and consideration to the rather intricate problems that were involved, said Mr. Banner. Expert advice was obtained in order to establish the value and state of the undertakings and improvements referred to in the Wellington Harbour Board Empowering Act, 1908. Terms of Agreement. As a settlement could not be come to at the time and the negotiations would have to, be prolonged for various reasons, it was arranged that the Patent Slip Company should continue to operate the slips until a settlement was reached. Finally, an agreement was come to as to the amount of compensation payable under the Act to the Union Steam Ship Company and Patent Slip Company for their improvements. Briefly, the arrangement entered into provided (a) for the Union Steam Ship Company, in accordance with the Act and on terms and conditions agreed on, to be granted a 14-years’ renewable lease of the land at present occupied by it for marine workshops and laundry; (b) for tlie company to be granted a license, for a period of seven years, with right of renewal for another seven years, of the repair wharf adjacent to its marine workshops, together with a triangular strip of land giving access thereto; (c) the board had given special consideration to the question of two slipways which now belonged to it, and came to tlie conclusion that it would be more satisfactory to the port and profitable to the board if a running arrangement was made with the Union Steam Ship Company and the Patent Slip Company. “It has now been agreed with these companies,” said Jlr. Banner, “that they lease the two slipways as public slips for a term of seven years with the right of renewal for a further seven years upon terms and conditions satisfactory to both parties. In the lease it is made clear that all vessels requiring the slips shall be entitled thereto, that no preference or priority shall be exercised and control is retained by the board of tiie slip rates and charges payable. The area of land to be controlled by the Patent Slip Company has been reduced in size sufficient for the company’s present purpose- The various deeds have been executed by both parties, and operate from October 1. 1933. There are certain details still to be decided upon, but these are not. vital. “Matter for Congratulation." “It is a matter for congratulation that a satisfactory settlement has ar last been come to in regard to these slip properties, and credit is du n to the two companies concerned for the manner in which they discussed and concluded the various points in dispute. 1 am sure that members will agree with me when I say that the arrangement will be found to be entirely satisfactory both to the board and to the port. “A further step is yet necessary in that the agreements come to in regard to the license of the repair wharf with its triangular strip, and the lease of the two slipways, will require to be validated by Parliament. A suitable clause has been prepared and agreed (x> by both parties, and will be submitted for insertion in tlie Local Legislation Act to be introduced next session.”