THE PATENT SUP.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 62, 6 December 1907, Page 6

THE PATENT SUP.

■ » : ] Another important development lias taken place in'connection with the Patent Slip. As we report elsewhere, the Harbour Board, at a special meeting' held yesterday afternoon to consider the position produced by the Union Company's purchase of.a controlling interest in the Slip property, decided to take steps "to acquire the property and assets of the Patent Slip Company either at a price to be settled by agreement, or conrpulsorily." The discussion took place in camera, arid all that we are told of the proceedings is the fact that Mr. Beauchamp did not vote for the resolutions; and we may note in passing that it woidd proliably relieve im embarrassing situatior for all parties if the Board would-ex cuse Mr. Beauchamp from exercising his functions as a member of the Boarc in the settlement of a question invplv ing the interests of private companiei with which he is connected. By th< Harbour Board's decision the publi< is now an interested party in the ques tion, and, as there is ample room foi confusion and misunderstanding in tli< matter, it is as well that the publii should be presented with the chie: facts to be remembered. In the firs place, it is necessary to forestall an] suggestion that the Harbour Board v, acting unfairly towards the TJnioi Company.. The Harbour Board has fo: a considerable time thi acquisition of the Patent Slip property in order to round off the Evans Baj reclamation scheme, and to completi the dock policy. Its claim on posses sion of the property—if there can b< such a thing as a moral right in tlii matters-is, therefore, superior to tin Union Company's. In any case, sinci the Union Company's purchase of ; controlling interest in the property is so far as the Harbour Board is con cerned, merely a transfer of shares the propriety of acquisition by th( Harbour Board remains unimpaired The Board has merely decided where it has hitherto been only considering It is not possible that the Union Steam ship Company was unaware of the-like lihood of this action, by the Board, anc the public may decide for itself whe ther the Company's investment in th< Slip,property was due or not to an ex> pectation that the property would .b< resumed by the Board. Certainly n< one can blame the Union Company foi making' a good bargain for its share' holders, and we have nothing to saj against the Company's business.smart' •ness. .The point is of no public pern. All that the public will be concerned to ; see is that, while the Patenl Slip Company receives fair and hones* treatment, the Board,will not be forcec into paying an inflated price for th< property. It appears that the genera empowering clause of the Harbours Act, 1878, and the Public Works Act 1876, cover authority for the taking over of the Slip by the Board, whili Clause 15 of the Wellington Harbou: Board Empowering Act, 1902, make; express provision for a private pur chase by the Board of "all or any as sets" of the Patent Slip Company Perhaps an Order-in-Council or a spe cial Act may be required for the com .pulsory. acquisition of the propert; should it be found impossible to comi to the agreement provided for in tin : 1902 Act. It is manifest that • tin Slip property is so situated as natur ally to. belong to the Harbour Board' extended schemes in Evans Bay. I cannot be questioned, in the absence o any possibilities of greater public ad vantage from private control, that tin dock and the reclamation schemes an overpowering arguments for Harboui Board control of the Slip and the asset: attached to it.