HARBOUR BOARDS' ASSOCIATION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 269, 2 August 1918, Page 8

HARBOUR BOARDS' ASSOCIATION

CONCLUSION OF CONFERENCE

RESOLUTIONS PASSED The Harbour Boards' Association Conference was concluded yesterdnv morning. Mr. C. 15. Dnniell presided." The executive of the association and tho executive officers of tho harbour boards of the four chief ports were »p----pointed to confer with the Marine- Department in revising tho harbour regulations dealing villi explosive, iullaiii. mablo nils, and otlior duugerous jtoods. Mr. A. B. Jull (Napier) moved: "That tho various hnibour boards )>p asked lo urge upon membra of Parliamfiiil representing their districts to press upon Ihe Government the urgency for (lie Ciovernmeiit giving pfl'ect to nnaniinoiis ,'aiil reiterated request of linrbmir hoards (hat the Government pay tho dues to (lie Imr bo in , boards on Government cargo and tmnsporis niul trading sliips."—The jnolion was carried unauimonsly. The following Tenuis were passed by the conference:— That provision bo made in 'lie Harbours Act so 11<at payment for travelling expenses be mado either on a basis of actual expenses, or on a mileage basis, allowing the boards lo fix by resolution the sum which will be drawn. That Ihe following provision be enacted in addition to the ulfenoes created by Section 209, Harbours Act, 111(18:-(l) Every person commits an offence who does, or causes, or suffers to be done, auy of the following things, that is to say:— (a) Drainage into harbours: Either directly or indirectly discharges any sewage or polluted waters into any harbour, or on to the foreshore of auy harbour, or upsji any land in such a position thai: the same is, or is liable to be carried or washed down by nny open or closed channel or conduit, or by any stream or How of water, or by ordinary rainfall, storm, or Hood, or by any other cause or means, whether of the same nature or not, into the harbour, or on to the foreshore of any harbour. lb) Dc--positing refuse: Casts, or places, or suffers to fall any substance or thing whi.ch is, or is liable to be offensive lo the public, or injurious to public health, upon the foreshore of nny harbour, or into any harbour, or any part of tho sea, po'tiiai; the same is, or is liable lo be deposited upon such foreshore, or upon any land, in such a position that tho same is, or is liable to be carried or washed down by any cause or means, including any of those mentioned in the lii.st preceding paragraph, on to such foreshore. (2) JTor each such offence the offender shall be liable to pay a fine not exceeding £i>Q, and in addition thereto any expenses incurred by the board by reason or in consequence of any such oifence. (3) Such fine shall bo recoverable only on the prosecution of the board having jurisdiction at the place where tho oifence is committed, or on a prosecution directed by the Minister, and if there is no board at such place, then only on a prosecution directed by tho Minister, provided that it shall not bo necessary to prow that any such direction has" been given. That the following subsection be added to Section id, Harbours Act, 1908-.-That a reference in the by-laws of a harbour_board lo any Act of Parliament shall extend to, and include nny Act thereafter passed in amendment thereof or in substitution therefor. That the Government be rcqueslcd to amend tho Harbours Act bo as to enable boards to acquire lnnds and to erect thereon homes for harbour board employees and other wateraido workers. That the Government be requested to amend the Harbours Act, 1903, in order to empower boards to acquire wafer catchment areas, wilh rights of laying mains and reticulation pips connecting the catchment areas with the wharves or jetties. That the Marine 'Department be requested to, issue a general harbour regulation to provide for the carrying of lights. from sunset to sunrise by pleasure Inunchea and yachts. That in view of the inability of small harbour boards to provide themselves with the necessary plant, the Government be requested to purchase a seagoing dredge, which may be hired out for such necessary works an ir.ay from timu to time bo, required. That the Government having expressetf an opinion that upon the close of the war, and with a view to meeting any unemployment difficulty that may i.rise, local bodies should bo permitted, with the approval of the Government, In raise loans without first taking a poll of the ratepayers; we desire that such legislation should be enacted, and that similar facilities should be extended to/ harbour, boards. At the conclusion of the business a vote of thanks was accorded to tho president and the executive, and appreciative reference was also made lo the work of the secretary.