PILOTAGE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 85, 10 April 1912, Page 3

PILOTAGE.

COMPULSORY AT AUCKLAND NEW POLIOS' ADOPTED. [BT TELEGJIAPH— SPECIAL TO THE POST.] AUCKLAND, This Day. The question of adopting compulsory pilotage at Auckland was, at a. reconb meeting of the Auckland Harbour Board, referred to the board in committee for consideration. A report from the- committee was received by the board al a. meeting yesterday. The committee vecoinmended that the system of compulsory pilotage be adopted from Ist 1 October next. The following pilotage rates v/ere suggested as payable by every vessel (with exemptions a» provided by law), whether pilotago services have been actually rendered or not: — i t'a) For every sailing vessel not em1 ploying a tug, 3d per ton inwards and the same sum outwards ; (b) For every such vessel employing a, tug, 2d per ton itrwardo and again outwards ; (c) Steamers, 2d per ton both in\vardt> and outwards. (d) In no case shall the pilotage fee exceed £37 10s eaah way; (c) The services for a pilot for .a vessel taking up the powder anchorage shall be charged at half, rates. The committeo recommended that the proposed new by-laws on the &übjVcfc and the repeal of the old be referred to the board's solicitors. The secretary of the New Z\ialand Shipowners' Federation wrote tba-fc tho committee of the federation considered the proposal to introduce compulsory pilotago "was against the best interests of the port. The chairman (Mr. J. E. Gunson) *tii<l that the board muet expect (^presentations of this kind from intxrested shipowners. The proposal to make pilotage compulsory was on all fours, with sin increase or rent, to which tenants would ■probably object. The propoxa.l had _ not been hastily gone into. He had ;jivcn the board -the fullest information regarding the present conditions and what iho position would be under tho proposed system. Mr. E. W. Alieon said ho was very sorry (to see, tho recommendation. Auckland" was one of ,the safest ports in the world; and it was going by this proposal to bo put on the aame footing as the most dangerous. The port of Wellington, which was also a safe or.o, did not have compulsory pilotage. Tho only reason for making it compulsory appeared to be the raising of revenue. Mr. H. D. Heather spoke iv the same strain. During the many years that largo ships had come into Auckland there had" been no accidents to indicate the need for compulsory pilotage. Mr.' Alison called for a. division on the question of the adoption of ' the system, and he- and Mr. Heather .voted alone in the negative. The chairman explained that he wished the maximum of £37 10s to be increased to £45, as the result of new tables which he had taken out. This would fix tho maximum of the amount payable by a vessel of 5400 tons net register. At the present time the P. ajid 0. steamers paid from £80 to £100 for pilotage services, the lonic paid £130, and the Zealandic £115. If.it paid them to do so it would surely pay large cargo carriers to pay the comparatively moderat© sum of £90 maximum. The amendment raising the maximum charge was carried. Mr. Entrican moved that the exemption clause should be struck out altogether, but this was lost. On the motion of Mr. Alison, seconded by Mr. Entrican, it was resolved that a. vessel" calling a second timo at Auckland on tho same trip to the Dominion shall ,pa-y, only; half rates for the second visit.