THE HARBORS CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3998, 31 July 1913, Page 6

THE HARBORS CONFERENCE

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. [PEESS ASSOCIATION TELEGEAMI WELLINGTON, July 30. At the Harbor's Conerence the following office-bearers were electee!: — President, Chairman of the Wellington Board ; vice-presidents, Chairmen of the Auckland, Lyttelton and Otago Boards; other members of the executive, Chairmen of the Napier, New Plymouth, Nelson and Timaru Boards with two Wellington delegates; secretary and treasurer, Mr A. G. Barnett ; auditor, Mr H. E. Nicholls. The following remits were adopted: That the Minister for Marine be requested to insert in all licenses granted by the Governor-in-Council under section 136 of the Harbor Act, 1908, or section 39 of the Harbors Amendment Act, a clause providing that harbor dues shall be paid on all goods passing over wharves or reclamations constructed under such licenses. That application be made to Government to amend the Harbors Act, 1908, so that any Harbor Board which has a navigable river under its jurisdiction shall have power to make bylaws for the purpose of. regulating all matters relating to the protection of life and property in or on vessels. That the Harbors Act be amended to provide that election of all elective members of harbor boards be placed under the control of one chief returning officer to be appointed by each of the respective harbor boards. That the conference affirms the opinion that the principle of government nominees on harbor boards is unsound, and that if nomination for all boards is not deleted, it should be at least deleted from boards that have rating powers. That the Government be requested to amend the Harbors Act so that all Government goods passing over or using the boards’ wharves shall pay dues in the same manner as ordinary mercantile cargo. That the Government be requested to amend the Harbors Act so that Government and other vessels engaged in commercial trading shall pay harbor dues and licenses. That the Government be requested to omit from future mail contracts' the special clause exempting steamships carrying mails from the payment of harbor dues. That loans to be raised by harbor boards may be raised in the manner provided by the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1908, and amendments thereof. That this conference resolves that in the best interest of the communities affected thereby every harbor board should have the management and control of the wharves in its own district. That experience has nroved that control by the Government in such districts is undesirable and unsatisfactory, and tTr!rt!overnment is tasked to give effect to this resolution.