HARBOR BOARDS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 1 August 1918, Page 5

HARBOR BOARDS.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OPENED

(BY TELEGRAPH PRKSS ASSOCIATION J WELLINGTON, July 31. Ihe conference of harbor boards has opened.

Mr Wilford, Minister of Marine, in an address, said that the question of the inspection of all gear belonging to narbor boards was an important one In his opinion, such inspection should be made by qualified Government experts. He considered that the owners j ot gear should not be the inspectors of I that gear. Clearly, it would be more satis, actory, both to such owners and to tne men working with such gear, that there should b e independent inspection by Government insuectors. Mr .AVilford said* that at present he was considering tlie question of recommending legislation dealing with the inspection of products imported. The matter of pollution of harbors was one to be carefully dealt with. New regulations providing against the danger of explosions of inflammable oils landed or shipped from the wharves were being prepared.

Ihe Minister uttered a word of warning regarding the question of harbor works being lightly entered into Boards should look well ahead when erecting new wharves, oAving to the increase in size of steamers after the war Regarding the non-payment of harbor dues on Government cargo he was satisfied that if a .ship taken by the Government for transport was engaged •solely on any trip in carrying cargo only to, say, America, the port should not lose the dues.

The Conference re-affirmed the opinion • that the principle of Government nominees on harbor hoards Avas unsound. It was resolved to recommend the Government to make a distinction _ between British and foreign vessek in the matter of dues. Remits Aver e carried reouesting the Government to amend the Harbors Act, so that vessels carrying his Majesty's mails shall not he exemnt from harbor dues, and that all Government goods passing over or using the boards' wharves shall pay dues in the same manner as ordinary cargo. There was a long discussion on the question of the control of Avaterside labor, and the following remit was passed: To approach the Government Avith a request that the Harbors Act be amended in .such a manner as to empower harbor bo-m-ds to employ, control and manage all labor required in the loading and unloading of shins, and for waterside, work generally, whether on the wharves or on vessels.