THE HARBORS BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2224, 30 October 1907, Page 1

THE HARBORS BILL.

SOME NEW PROVISIONS. EXTENSION OF ELECTIVE PRINCIPLE. (Special to Times.) WELLINGTON. Oct. 29. The Harbors Bill which has been introduced by the Minister of Marine, and which has been considered by the Harbor Boards’ Conference in committee, has now been circulated. It contains 192 clauses, but is for the most part a consolidating measure. The Harbor Boards Bill which was introduced in the earlier part of the session, and which got as far as the second reading on August Bth, is incorporated in an amended form in the new Bill. . The first-named Bill provided for the constitution on an extended elective system of eight Boards only. The new Bill amends the first provisions regarding these eight Boards and also increases the t‘ho number of Boards dealt with under the .same section §2 as follows; Auckland ,Bluff, Gisborne, Havelock, Hokitika, Lyttelton, Ma'kou,Motueka, Napier, Nelson, New Plymouth, Oamaru,Otago, Patea, Pt. Molyneaux.Timaru, Thames, Waimakariri, Wairoa (H B), Waitara, Wanganui, and Wellington. Two members are to be appointed by the Government in the case of each of these Boards, with the exception of Patea, in which case there will be only one member so appomted. ELECTIVE MEMBERS The remainder of members shall be elected by the electors or local authorities and payers of harbor dues, and ship owners in each of the respective districts, according to the manner set forth in each case. Every member appointed by the Government shall hold office for two years from the Ist of July in the year in which such Board is constituted. Tlio elective members of the Board shall also hold office for two years; the election to take place in February ol evory alternate year. The elections shall take place in the ordinary ‘way as provided by the Local Elections Act 1904, each elector to have one vote The provision regarding the election and appointment of members shall not apply to the New Plymouth, Westport, Greymouth, New river, Riverton, and Waikokopu Boards, or to any Board hereaiter constituted consisting of the members of a local authority. NEW PROVISIONS.

The Board’s accounts ill every year are to be balanced to the 31st of March. The annual meeting of each Board shall be held on the fourth Monday in May, at which the annual election of chairman shall take place. The chairman may be paid an annual allowance not exceedino- £IOO out of the Board s funds. Power is given to the Boards to make by-laws for Various purposes as •hitherto provided, and also contiol and regulate the sale on wharves of anv articles by hawkers, newspaper vendors, and other persons. The pen - ers of the Boards to construct harbor works are extended to include treezir»rr works and cool chambers. ° PILOTAGE AND PILOTS. The Boards shall have power to determine" whether pilotage shall^o compulsory or optional, and may t re t s Cr for pilots. lU The section of the Act of 1878 dealing with the appomtment of pilots is reconstructed, alia it is provided that any unauthorised person acting as pilot within -a district where pilotage is compulsory is liable to a fine not exceeding £IOO, in addition to any liability for damages Pilotage rates are to be paid to'the Harbor Board where there is one and to the Collector of Customs at ports where there is no HarbOHARBOR LANDS AND FORESHORE. A Board may lease rural lands rested in it for any term not exceed-

ing 21 years and town lands for any term not exceeding fifty years. No premium may bo taken whore any lease is for a longer term than 21 years. Tho annual rent for any poriod beyond the first 21 years shall bo at least 50 per cent greater than during tho last year of tho expired 21 years. Every lease shall be sold by public auction or public tender. AVhen land vested in the Board is resumed bv the Governor under the Public AVorks Act 1905 the compensation shall not exceed tho amount spoilt by tho Board in reclaiming or improving tho lands, plus two and a half per cent, or the value of tlie land when taken, whichever is the lesser amount. The clause in tlio Act of 1898 under which freeholds could not be disposed of without a special Act of Parliament is modified by a provision that tlio Covernor-in-Coun-cil may grant occupation leases of Crown lands between high and low wafer mark, oil-which at high water spring tides there is not sufficient depth of water for navigation. Such leases are to be for periods not exceeding 21 years, and may contain a clause permitting the lessee to reclaim such land. Every person is liable to a fine not exceeding £5 who removes any stone, sand, or boulders from any forsliore without the authority in writing of the ATinister, where the foreshore is vested in the Crown, or local authority where the foreshore is vested in a local authority. As security for the repayment or loans the Boards may pledge the rents and profits of lands vested in it. harbor and other dues, and the -proceeds of a rate levied for tlie purpose with the consent of tlie ratenavers. Tho Local Bodies Loans Act will apply to Harbor Boards. Press Association. AUCKLAND, Oat. 29. Opinions obtained locally from representative men to-day relative to the provisions embodied in tlie Harbors Bill were in general agreement with the main issues, and tho measure was declared to be in the right direction. Almost- unanimous exception was taken, however, to the Government claiming two seats. The amount of honorarium fixed for tho chairman was considered inadequate. The opinion was freely expressed ■that the iiroposed legislation would have a good "effect in Harbor Board administration. The confiscatory clause, dealing with resumption by tlie Government of reclaimed land at tho original cost plus 2) per cent, interest, was condemned.