THE HARBOURS ACT

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2198, 10 July 1914, Page 4

THE HARBOURS ACT

PApiENT OF MEMBERS CONTROL OF FORESHORES J COST OF ELECTIONS Some important changes: in the existing law are proposed in the HavboiiTS Amendment Bill, in charge of the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, which was circulated yesterday. ' The present Act provides that no member of a harbour hoard shall be paid any remuneration or hold, any salaried position/under the board. The Bill proposes that a board shall be authorised by resolution at a full meet-' ing, to agree to pay to any or all of its members a special allowance of one guinea for each day's attendance, at meetings of the board,, in addition to the reasonable expenses actually, incurred in travelling to or from such meetings, or to or from any meeting of any committee of the board,, or any business: of the board to. which he is authorised :'by the board to attend, and upon such resolution . being passed payment shall, be ..made accordingly., '. ." , Another proposal relates to the-cost of elections. At present a harbour board is required to meet the "reasonable additional cost" incurred in bracketing its election with -that of another Iqcal.body. The new proposal is:—"Provided that where an election under this Act is held simultaneously with an election, of tho members.of a- local authority, as aforesaid, the harbour board shall not be required to payin rospeeji: of the cost of the election a sum in exy cess of the actual cost of 'advertising', and printing in connection with : .the harbour board election (exclusive of the cosb\of printing the roll) together with an additional ■ amount equal to ten ■per centum of. the; actual :• expenses incurred by' tho' local authority-; in, conducting its own and the harbour board elections,-exclusive of ; the cost of advertising and printing." . ■ .--■'••

, Local Authorities and Foresliores. Other.new provisions aro:~,.' ; '. N : "Where the foreshore,(whether with'--in the limits of a harbour or not) is not vested in any harbour: .'board or 'other local.;authority, the governor may, by Order-in-Council, grant,'for a, period not exceeding 21. years, .the Control of sxioh part or parts thereof as he thinks n't to any local authority,i domain board, Nor persons l acting,: as trustees for , the inhabitants of, the locality/j.-iipoii such conditions as . may. be -." prescribed in the Order. ~-■„ •..,;: ■■:...-. . •': ■':■ :■■.-'. ...■■

■ "The local aoithority, •. board,. or persons to wholn the control of. foreshore. is ; so granted 'may make euch' by-lawe as are■. necessary.' for the!, preservation, and coutrol'of the foreshore. . ■,' ,

"The said authority, board, or persons may, subject to the provisions of the principal. Act,. erect baths.and - bathhouses Con; the foreshore,' the control 'of which .has-been eo granted tp them,, and.,may ,'make by-laws -regiilat ing the -use' thereof -and ..fixing , the! .charges , forsuch- use., i.. ... . . ■,' ' "The Governor, may by On3er-in-Coun-cil, axithorise any local, authority, whose, district borders on any 'foreshore,. to make' by-laws for the proper, .epiiduot of persons bathing.' in the. vichiity of such 'foreshore, ■ and may empower the local,authority .to. delegate'the right.to. make sucK, by-laws to any. surf-bathing! club. ''. . ''I {"'■': -V-':-.!'' . ', ..■.','

■■i'-"By-laws■,mado under. :'the two last preceding _sectif>[is '(other than .by-laws, ■ftiade -by a.-lpc'M :authority)'". shall ;ndt-

have effect unless and until approved in writing by the Minister." ' Candidates' Deposits. A candidate for election to a Harbour Board shall deposit £3 with the Iteturning Officer, to bo forfeited if ho does not poll of the votes polled by the successful candidate or by the successful candidate polling the fewest votes. Harbour Boards are empowered to appoint acting-officers. Wheii a. board has stored goods left on a wharf without its consent- it may recover a reasonable charge for storage. Tho , present law provides that a ship' driven back'-to port through stress of weather shall not be charged additional harbour dues. This is amended by providing that-a charge .may bo made in such cases for services rendered by the officers or servants of.the board. 'Harbour Boards already have powers to erect warehouses, stores, .etc. These powers are amplified as follows: "Or for the uso or convenience of importers or exporters or of shipping owners or agents, or for any-purposo connected-with-the harbour which the board may determine." Power is given to boards to lease warehouses, buildings, plant, etc., for,seven years instead of three years as at present. Another amendment withdraws the poweT of appointing a substitute for the treasurer of a beard to , countersign cheques. In addition to tlie existing power to determins- the .qualifications to be required of persons licensed as pilots, boards arc- given similar power to determine- the qualifications of persons licensed as harbourmasters. A shippiaster may be required, to produce .'copies of a manifest, or bill of lading instead of one copy as at'present. The privilege of freedom .of passage over wharves and in and about harbours at present enjoyed by officers of the Customs and, Marine Department* in the execution of their duty is extended, to •r-fficers of the Department of Agriculture, Industries an.tt Commerce. ■' The provision in .the Harbour Amendment Act,. 1010,..which,provides that where dues have been paid by two or more persons jointly, only; ono persqn shall:vote iri> respect of the payment, 15 amended so that it no longer applies to payers on ships. Persons and firms entitled to vote as payers of dues may vote by deputies.' Any poison entitled to vote on. behalf of another persqn or body corporate'may on his own,behalf. ■.:.'.<

, ar© made to tile provision much requires harbour; hoards to produce -their annual statements of' accounts by December 31, is ma do in the case of the Greyrooutli and Westport Harbour Boards which are to make their statements.of, accounts in regard to the period of twelve months , ending : on March 8] -"■-"-. ">..-;.- ■•• v .•.■:;■■ " ■-■