MINISTER DEFENDS CHANGES IN HARBOUR BOARDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 October 1948, Page 7

MINISTER DEFENDS CHANGES IN HARBOUR BOARDS

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Further specialised representation on the harbour boards, as provided by clause 2 of the Amendment to the Harbours Act, which was recently passed by the House of Representatives, might be succeeded by expert examination of the constitution of the boards, said the Minister of Marine, Mr Hackett, at the annual conference of the Harbours’ Association this morning. If the experiment of more representation proved successful, said the Minister, the Government might delegate authority to have a thorough examination’made of. the harbour board system in relation to otherexisting systems. “J regret that my faith in the success of the amendment is not shared by the people most concerned,” said the Minister. “In spite of what has been said, I am convinced that, if the existing harbour board members will make every endeavour to co-operate, then the men appointed in accordance with the amendment will prove an The Government had originally intended to act on the recommendations made by the Local Government Committee, but, after giving the first draft of the bill full consideration, it realised that the shipowners and payers of dues must inevitably be constructively interested in the welfare of New Zealand ports and by their international experience be in a position to tender valuable advice. “I feel that from the list of nominations that will be forthcoming it should be easily possible to find persons who will show primary interest in the welfare of the port they will represent,” said Mr Hackett. “If the experiment proves a success, as I feel confident it will, then the suggestion already made might be tried —that a commission of experts or the Local Government Commission be asked to examine thoroughly the complete constitution of the harbour board system. If necessary, after comparing their set-up in relation to other existing systems the commission could make recommendations. “Whether it pleases or offends the conservative mind, -we cannot afford to close our eyes to progress in any case,” said the Minister. “If after a fair trial it is found that the desire of the Government is not fulfilled, then we will not hesitate to undo what has recently been done.” .