DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22435, 3 June 1936, Page 14

DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORTS

PAYMENT OF HARBOUR DUES ASSURANCE BY MINISTER Agreement with tho opinion of Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., to the effect that the Government Audit Office may insist that butter and cheese * exported as the property of the Crown under the Primary Products Marketing Act cannot be made subject to harbour dues, was expressed by Mr. D. Holderness, acting-superintendent of tho Auckland Harbour Board, yesterday. Mr. Holderness explained that if the Audit Office took the attitude indicated and the position were not immediately rectified by legislation the board would lose considerable revenue, for exports of dairy produce were heavy, but its losses, because it had other substantial sources of revenue, would not be felt to the extent that would bo experienced by some of tho smaller harbour boards, such as Whakatane. Mr. Holderness said that when tho Government introduced tho Primary Products Marketing Bill tho board viewed with alarm the situation relating to produce shipped as Crown property, for under existing legislation all Crown goods were exempt from the payment of harbour dues. The board took the question up with the Harbours Association, which was given an assurance by the Minister of Finance, tho Hon. W. Nash, that exemption from dues was not contemplated in tho case of dairy produce, Mr. Nash saw no reason, in view of tho fact that ho was given an opinion by the Crown Law Office that dues would have to bo paid, to amend the bill in order to protect tho interests of tho harbour boards. However, as Mr. Howard had stated, the Audit Offico would act on legislation as it stood. The Audit Offico would object to any rovenuo being received by a board, if it thought tho board wore not entitled to it. However, Mr. Holderness said it was no use anticipating troublo and, if necessary, the Minister had promised to see that the boards were protected by legislation.