THE GOVERNMENT AND HARBOUR BOARDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIII, Issue 13783, 23 June 1905, Page 3

THE GOVERNMENT AND HARBOUR BOARDS.

[Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON, June 22. At a meeting of the Harbour Board to-day, the Wharves and Accounts Committee recommended that a Legislation Committed should ho appointed, to watch during the ensuing session proposed legislation, as affecting harbour boards, with power to act, and that th© attention of the Harbours’ Association should bo drawn to the fact that the Now Zealand State Coal Mines Department declined to pay storage and other charges for services rendered. The chairman, referring ; to the latter portion of the report, said that this meant a serious loss to the Board, and as the coal cam© into competition with private dealers, it was thought. advisable to draw attention to the subject, with a view to getting relief. One or two of tho Boards on the West Coast had their services absolutely disorganised through the establishment of tho State coal mine and the consequent non-payment of dues. The Hon T. K. MacDonald asked why pursue a course of irritation, for this would irritate the Government, when there was no redress. Tho secretary said that in this case the State .traded as a private trader. Where affairs of State were concerned, there was no objection. Tho lion T. K. MacDonald said that the Crown would never consent to be taxed by a Board which it had brought into existence. It would be no use passing such a resolution. The secretary said that during the past month he had had to write to four departments about delays in removing goods, in' one case for one hundred days, and in another for sixty-three days. The Hon T. K. MacDonald said that he had no doubt the Government would see that it did not happen again, now that publicity had been given to tho facts. Tho chairman: If departments had to pay storage, they would take delivery as quick as any private trader. The Hon T. K. MacDonald suggested that the State Goal Department should not be singled out. The reference in the resolution should bo made general. This was agreed to. The chairman said that the Govern-

ment contended that storage came under tho same category as wharfage, and therefore declined to par 7. The Act was not clear on the subject. Tho report was adopted.