"THOROUGH OVERHAUL"

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 106, 1 November 1945, Page 5

"THOROUGH OVERHAUL"

HARBOUR FACILITIES

"There is a pressing need for a thorough overhaul of the whole position of the harbour facilities of the Dominion, particularly as to the smaller ports. There is jome evidence that there should be some readjustment of the boundaries of harbour districts," states the report of the Committee which investigated local government in New Zealand.

"It is not so much the size of the district which determines the effective technical operations of the board, but rather the question as to the area over which taxation should be levied for the maintenance of the harbours," states the report. "Before any effective work can be done in this field, it seems necessary that some definition as to future policy in regard to coastal shipping should be laid down. This should be done at a very early date, because many of the small harbour boards are in serious financial difficulties at the present time, and quite a number are able to carry on solely because of the subsidy which is being paid to them from the War Expenses Account."

The Committee expresses the opinion that there is no case for the continuance of the representation of shipowners and payers of dues on harbour boards and that this should be discontinued. It also slates that the present system of appointing Government nominees on harbour boards has no justification, and recommends that such representation be discontinued.