EXTENDED RIVER LIMITS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1174, 8 July 1911, Page 15

EXTENDED RIVER LIMITS.

*- —:— RECENT LEGISLATION. PROTEST BY AUCKLAND SHIPOWNERS. (By Telceraph-SDecial Correspondent.) 1 m. . Auckland, July 7. 1 Ihe protest made by the Auckland Fed- , eration of Shipowners against the deci- ., son of the Minister for Marino to reduce ; the extended river limits of Waitemata Harbour has not been effective, as the Minister has declined to make any alterai£? ° r T, T^ 6 i a deputation on the subject. The_ Minister adds that the matter was thrashed out in Parliament and in the press in Auckland at the time of the Jvapanm-Claymore collision, and that in the interests of life and property it is deemed advisable to bring down the limits wiuci even now include 'a pretty wide . area of water. ; J\fr C. Ransom, manager of the North- ■ em Steamship Company, stated when inten lewed that the effects of the altera- . tion, would bo much more serious than ■ was apparent. Trade to the ports beyond the waters defined by the new limits will , be, seriously handicapped, as vessels running to them will havo to be manned and ; equipped as sea-going vessels, overtime will have to bo paid to tho crews, fewer passengers -will be allowed, and the capacity will bo reduced. The cost of maintaining.a service to the ports which wero affected would therefore- be greater, and the public would have to share the burden in the shapo of increased rates and freights. It. was ridiculous that steamers of 50 to 60 tons register, such as tho Gaol and tho Kawau, suouicl havo to be manned on tua scale fixed for oceangoing vessels when they wero engaged on runs of four to six hours, during which they wero never more than a mile from land." The regulations would apply not only to vessels propelled entirely by mechanical power, but also to thoso fitted with auxiliary engines, so. that virtually every vessel trading in the Hauraki Gulf was affected. Mr. Hansom added that, tho collision mentioned by Mr. Millar had no bearing on tho question, as it occurred iii Auckland Harbour betweon tho Devonport and Victoria Wharves. "It is quite incomprehensible to us why tho Minister has made these alterations," said Mr. T. Henderson, secretary of the Shipowners' Federation, "It seems that instead of being regarded as respectable citizens, the shipowners are to bo treated ns criminals, whose object is not to earn money honestly, but to throw away their ships and destroy life. Tho effect of recent legislation, of which these regulations aro typical, has been, not to toster a local marine, but to force tho individual shipowner out of business. Simultaneously legislation is being enacted to combat trusts and combines, and to assist in the formation of them."

Mr. Henderson said that the carrying capacity of the vessels would bo reduced by the alterations in the limits, the running expenses would be increased, and tho customers of tho shipping companies would have to bear tho burden. Another effect would be that :i vessel carrying a fishing excursion a couple of miles beyond Shearer Hock would have ot bo manned as though for an ocean voyage. So far as ho know, there had been no occurrence to justify the restrictions which had been imposed. Mr. Henderson added that the Gazette notice of the warrant was not given till June 8, and the new regulations Came into force on July 1. The Minister had promised that any proposal to reduce the limits would be submitted to tho interested parties before it was adopted, but he had not kept his promise. Though the petition from the federation was delivered in Wellington on June 2G no replv was received from the Minister till last Tuesday evening. , .