HARBOUR BOARDS' CONFERENCE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 26, 25 October 1907, Page 8

HARBOUR BOARDS' CONFERENCE.

' ♦— ' . SECOND DAYS SITTING. ' The Harbour Board Confercnco was resumed yesterday morning, the Hon. T. Iv. Macdonald presiding. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID. Mr. Watson moved, and Mr. Ferguson seconded, tho following motion: —"That the Conference. disapprove of the proposal referred to in' a report of a meeting of tho Wellington Hospital Trustees on July 16 last, that Harbour Boards be made contributing bodies under the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards Act, and that 'a copy of, this resolution be forwarded to the Minister for Public Health." . ,

In reply to a protest against the proposal by the Greyniouth delegate, Mr. Watson said the Boards already contributed indirectly through the taxation .they, had to pay to local bodies, and it was' unreasonable to ask them to contribute twice.. ' pMr.'XvE. Jull (Napier)'said the intention apparently was to obtain some from the revonue the Harbour Boards derived from shipping. Miv Beaiiehamp said he did not see why the Boards should contribute to the funds of another locpl body. Mr.' Murdock (Greyinouth) said the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards were merely distributing agehcies ( - and ought to be supported by other bodies. ' . . I Mr. Napier (Auckland) said it was unjustifiable that tho Harbour Boards should misappropriate money which was intended for harbour and shipping purposes. A special rate' would be required, and he know of no instance in the world where there •' was • a sperial hospital rate levied by a marine body upon shipping. The motion was carried.

DEBENTURES. The following motion was carried: —"To seek that the provisions of section 191 of the Harbours Act, 1878, be enlarged, so as to onable Harbour Boards to issue' single debentures for a sum exceeding one thousand pounds." WORKERS' SUPERANNUATION. Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier) moved:—"To again urge upon the Government the necessity of embodying, in the proposed Harbour Board legislation such powers as will enable the Harbour Boards of the Dominion to establish a superannuation scheme ; for their employees,".

In supporting the motion Mr. Kayo (Lyttelton) said there was urgent necessity for some such scheme. The anatter was. continually coming before the Boards, and servants were kept on long 'after, they wero efficient. ■, , Mr. -Ferguson said Harbour Boards wero not unanimous, but' those Boards which did not. agreo with the proposal ought not to stand in the way of -thoso that did. Ho thought it would be better to substitute the clause contained in tile annual report, and submit; it to the Government as a recommendation from the conference. The clause was as follows Every Harbour Boardmay, out of its Harbour, Fund, pension or make a retiring allowance to any of its' employees oil or after his attaining the' age of sixty years, and who has been continuously in its employ for at least the previous' ten years. But such pension or retiring allowance shall not exceed one-third of the maximum annual rato of pay received by. such employee during such previous ten years'' •service,'and shall not - exceed the sum of £250 per annum." " .' ■ Mr. Boss (Dunedin) seoonded the amendment. ; Mr. Watson (Bluff) supported tho amendriient, which lie thought wpuld meet the difficulty. It would have been preferable, however, for the Government to introduco a superannuation scheme dealing with' tho whole of local bodies, and not nierqly Harbour Boards. In- tho multiplicity of schemes there would be a danger of some of thorn proving a failure financially. Mr. Ferguson's proposal would meet the difficulty in the meantime.

• Mr. A. E. Jull approved the amendment, on condition that it was made quite dear that 'the scheme should be supported by contributions from the workers, it would bo unworkable, and in some cases unreasonable, for the Government to bring down a general scheme, as, there wore so many different classes of workers, to bo dealt with. ' V ' Mr. Brown withdrew his motion in favour, of Mr. Ferguson's amendment. Mr. Jul] said his Board was quite in sympathy with the principle of .superannuation, ..but they , ought not to go quite contrary to all othor schemes. The schemo ought to. be contributed to'by the recipients. He moved an amendment that the scheme be carried put on a basis of contributions from the employees. . Mr. J. V. Brown said all Boards; had to contribute already by way of charitable aid. He disagreed with Mr. Jull's suggestion. Mr. Ferguson said' young men joining- the. „servico. slipuld be called upon to contribute; but thore wore now many old men in the service who ought to bo provided for. Mr. Bcauchamp (Wellington) said the,position in a nutshell was that permission now was sought to do legally what was now .done in many cases illegally. It ■ was common knowledge that many old men, who were no' longer lit 'for work,'were kept onbecausethe Boards could not turn them adrift: ? Mr. Watson (Bluff) spoke to similar effect. Mr. Jull's amendment found no seconder, and. the motion was carried, only Mr. Jul! dissenting. ■ •

FORESHORE LICENSES. ... Discussion was resumed on the question of. foreshore licenses, which camo before : the conference on the first day.' Mr. Bullock (OtagoV moved: —"That section 809 of tho Harbours Act Amendment Act, 1883,' be amended to provido that the solo power to issue licenses bo vested in tho Board having jurisdiction in the harbour in question; and. for that purpose tho foreshore bo vested in the said Board, but that all licenses be subject to the consont of tho Governor, in Council, the terms of cuch licenses not to exceed a poriod of five years." Mr., Beaucnamp considered the lease ought to bo fourteen years instead of five. Several delegates contended that thero

ought to bo competition for the lease's, and tho right to resume by tho Board on any oc-

Eventually Mr. Bullock withdrew his motion, and substituted tho following:- "That the foroshoro of all harbours in the control of a Harbour Board be vested in such Board."—Tho motion was carried. ... PUBLIC WORKS ACT. Mr. Bullock moved: "That this Conference affirm IJic principle that where lands vested in a Harbour Board aro taken or injuriously'affected by. the Crown either under section 142 or' 143 of the Harbours Act, 1878, full compensation should be paid thorcfor in. manner provided by tho Public Works Act ; and (2), That in this connection tho attention of the Government be called to the promise given by tho Premier (Sir Joseph Ward). to the Otago Harbour Board that in future lands taken by tho Government from Harbour Boards would bo taken under the'.Public Works. Act."' He said tho matter had beon fully discussed in committee, and it was thought a recommendation from the. Confcronco would carry more weight than a clause passed in committco. The motion was seconded..

Mr. Ferguson said tho legislation of 1904 had partly given effect'to the motion, but apparently, it had not been provided for in the present Bill. Tho motion was carried. LUPIN AND SAND DRIFT. " Mr.. J. B. Connett (New Plymouth) moved —"That powers be sought to ouablo-Har-bour Boards to plant lupin to protect sand drift, and to havo same declared a nonnoxious weed for that purpose." Lupin was a very valuable plant for the purposo named, but it was a noxious weed under the Act, and they desired to see it romoved from the list. Mr. Bullock (Otago) seconded. The motion was carried. MUNICIPAL POWERS. Mr. Napier (Auckland) moved: —"That tho powers conferred upon Municipal Corporations of .Section 264 of the Municipal Corpora-, tions. Act, 1900" bo also conferred upon

Harbour Boards for thepurposes of establishing ferry services." In'doing so ; lie enlarged 'on the ludicrous position m which Harbour Boards wero • liablp to bo placed when carrying on' municipal functions. The motion was carried. RATING POWERS. Mr. Bcauchamp moved that "All Harbour Boards have rating powers over tho whole of tlioir districts, and that such provision be included in .the .present Bill. He said it was not intended to exorcise tli authority if obtained, but- it would enablo Harbour Boards to make more, satisfactory arrangements when raising loans. As an instance, ho stated that recently loans ' woro raised by the Wellington Harbour Board and by tlie City Council. Tha former had to pay 4J per cent., and tho latter 4 per cent., but he believed the "difference would be greater in future,'unless tho alteration sought were ob-Mr-Kayo (Lyttelton) seconded the motion and spoke strongly in favour of it. The Chairman said the motion was really a re-a,formation of a motion earned at the Conference in 1904. . Mr. Jull (Napier) opposed tho proposal on the ground that the functions of tho Harbour Boards wore quite different to those of other municipal bodies. If such extraneous assistance were obtained, Harbour Boards would probably engage in undertakings which were not profitable. Ho pointed out that tho' Wellington Harbour Board s district- extended as far as- Pohangina and Castle Point, and it would bo most unfair to tax people in those districts to help to pay for improvements carried put for the benofit of the City of Wellington.' Tho delegates wero present to uphold tho interests of the Harbour Boards,' irrespective of>-cncroa'ch-ments made in other "directions. Ho referred totho experience' of Napior, where, he said, loans had been raised by the Harbour Board on tho promise that the rating powers would not be exercised. Now, howover, they wero called upon in that district to pay £22,000 out of £25,000, and good interest in direct rates on ..these loans. , He bad/never known any local body possess rating power without using it, and the present proposal was undemocratic and inequitable. Mr. Watson (Bluff) moved as an amendment, "That it is desirable that the Government should facilitate tho passing of any special' Act, introduced by any Harbour Board, to givo it rating powers as security for any loan for Harbour Board purposes. Mr. Ross (Otago) seconded. Mr. Bcauchamp said ho had merely intended to re-affirm tho resolution passed previously. .He.was quite prepared to withdraw the motion in favour of tho amendment. • •. . Mr. ICaye (seconder of tho motion) objected to tho withdrawal, as the amendment would not advance matters. Rating powers were now given to sonio bodies and not to others; which was unfair.. ' Permission to withdraw was given, and tho motion suggested by Mr. Watson was put and carried.

UP-TO-DATE DREDGING. Mr. Murdook (Grcymouth)-moved"That this Conference requests tho Government to. purchase an up-to-date dredge, which they may let to Harbour Boards upon payment of a reasonable rent." Mr. M.'Kenha (Patca) seconded. Mr. Kayo (Lyttelton) objected, as it was. quite unnecessary. He was strongly opposed to the tendency to run to. tho Government for everything. Various Harbour Boards liad dredges,' which were let out at reasonable rates. ' ■ Mr. Murdoch: We want tan up-to-date drodge, not an obsolete one. Mr. Ferguson said ho was entirely in sympathy with the intention to help the smaller Boards, but-there would be a difficulty in providing a dredge .that would be suitable tor. all districts.- • . • The words "up-to-date" were eliminated, and the motion was carried. ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE. Executivo officers were elccted as follows: — President, Hon. T. K. Macdonald; VicePresidents, Hon. E. Mitchelson, Messrs. G. Laurenson, M.H.R., and G.' Mackerras; Executive, Msesrs. Beauchamp, Ferguson, J: V. Brown, J. B. Connett, nnd J. Graham, M.H.It. Mr. Ferguson at first declined nomination, as ho would soon bo relinquishing his present position, lmt agreed to stand in response to a general request. Mr. C. Williams was elected auditor. Tlic Conference then wont .into Committal to consider; tho Harbours Consolidation Bill. On rising, ifc adjourned until 10 o'clock this .morning.