HARBOUR INTERESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22059, 15 March 1935, Page 12

HARBOUR INTERESTS

REQUESTS TO GOVERNMENT OIL POLLUTION PROBLEM [BY TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Thursday Resolutions adopted by tho New Zealand Harbours' Association at its ' annual conference at Christchurch in October and November last were presented to the Minister of Marine, the Hon. ;J. G. Cobbe, yesterday, by a deputation from tho executive of tho association. Mr. E. J. Howard, M.P., said the association was of opinion that all Gov-ernment-owned trading vessels should pay ordinary harbour dues and that the Act should be amended accordingly. Tho Maui Pomare was a case in point. So far as subsidised foreign shipping was concerned, tho association was of opinion that the Harbours Act should bo amended to give harbour boards power to charge preferential dues to British vessels registered in tho British Empire. Mr. Cobbe said that the matter was ono for negotiation. Tho Hon. Mark Fagan, M.L.C., who dealt with the question of pollution of coastal waters, said the conference had expressed the opinion that the Oil in Territorial Waters Act should be amended so as to extend its operation sufficiently beyond the three-mile limit to prevent tho pollution of wators of tho coastline of New Zealand. Mr. Cobbe said he did not think it would be possible to take any deflnito action in New Zealand. Tho question was receiving the consideration of a committee of the League of Nations at Geneva.

The Minister promised to supply a considered reply to the association's representations.