THE HARBOR BOARD.

Evening Star, Issue 3848, 24 June 1875, Page 3

THE HARBOR BOARD.

A deputation, representing the legislative committee of the Board, and consisting of Reeves, E. B. Cargill, Tewsley, end INI Neil, waited upon the Superintendent this morning, to ask his Honor to support the Bill the Board is about to bring before (he Assembly. Mr Reeves explained that the Board was anxious to secure his Honor’s good offices in the matter. The deputation w*re there to discuss with him anything which he did not altogether approve of, to smooth anything don a, and to come to something definite. His Honor had read over the draft Bill, bub confessed that he did not exactly see what was to be gained by it. Mr Reeves pointed out that it would give the Board; a better standing in the florae borrowing market an 1 improve its position, if they could show that their work had not only the sanciionof the Provincial butof the General Government, His Honor : I don’t see how. You have got now everything you can get from the Legislature, except power to levy dues on shipping • and though you have not got that, you have an equivalent. Mr Oaroiel : We don’t want the power to levy on shipping. His Honor further pointed out that the Board had the power to levy dues on goods. Mr Reeves ; Indirectly. His Honor; Indirectly. I don't see how the Bill will better your position at. Home, feo far as that is concerned, the money-lender will, I think, look to the security; and this Bill will not alter that in any way. Mr M‘Neil dared to say there was not much m it, but. as the Auckland Harbor Board had an Act of the. Assembly, it was thought that if the Dunedin Board had an Act of tlie supreme 1 -egislature it would strengthen the Board’s position.

His Honor : There is one thing aboutitwhich I do not like. It implies that the Ordinance i and Acts of the Provincial Council aie, to all intents and purposes, invalid. I do not believe, as a rule, in going to the Assembly to validate an Ordinance, so long as it is not u(tm vires,

The short title of the Bill is “The Otago Harbor Board Valuation and Empowering Act.” 5

Several members of the deputation pointed out that it was sought to clear up some points in the Ordinance, about which there was some doubt.

His Honor : Then there is a proposition to give the Governor-in-Gouncii a power which he has already got by an Act of the Assembly. Mr M'Neil remarked that there was another clause which made it incumbent upon any person making any alteration in the harbor to give timely notice to the Board. His Honor : I do not want to place cold water upon the thing. The movement does not commend itself to my judgment as being necessary. I think there are objections to assuming that it is required: that the legislation of the Province itself is not sufficient. Mr that if the Board had only to do with people here there might bo some force in his Honor’s remarks, but it was a different thing going to the Home market. His Honor : The Assembly will insist upon another clause being added, viz., to make it clear that neither the Provincial nor Colonial revenue isSimplicated. ftThe deputation said there would be no objection to that being done. Mr Cargill pointed out that if there were statutory power to levy a distinct tax for a separate purpose, as would be given here, the tax Itself was something that possessed in it abundant value. So this Bill would give greater security to the borrower—in all respects better than the general revenue, because it was quite specific. Mr M'Neil remarked that the Board thought people at a distance regarded it as having more stability, if stamped by an Act of the General Assembly. His Honor : I must say that I am not at all with you. I think people will lend the money and will look to the security without referen’e to the General Assembly at all, and your security is ample enough. Ees’d s, I think there is too much tendency on our parts to i ush away —outside ourselves—for advice and assistance. I do not believe in that principle. Mr Reeves endorsed what fell from Mr Tewsley as to an Act of the Assembly strengthening the Board’s position in the money marThen again, there was the fact that Provincialism would go the wall before long. Provincialism was being ridiculed not only here but in the neighboring Colonies, and it was therefore considered that an Ordinance of the Provincial Council would not place the Board in so good a position as an Act of the Assembly. If the latter was obtained, the Board’s hands would be strengthened considerably : it would get them the money much more easily. His Honor ; I have already expressed my opinion, which is that tin’s Bill is totally unnecessary. Of course, if the Harbor Board thinks otherwise

Mr Reeves : But we want to secure your Honor’s good offices in Wellington. f After further discussion, his Honor replied that while lie would not oppose the Bill, he could not stultify himself |hy giving it his active support. Were Provincial institutions abolished to-morr.w, the Harbor Board’s interests would not bo affected one iota. We were altogether too apt to rush to the Assembly upon all occasions, and it would have been much better if they had not. There was far too great a readiness and disposition to take it for granted that we could not manage our own affairs; hence the present position of the Colony. If the deputation could Lave shown how they could get nionev on better terms by this Bill, he would he inclined to pocket his prejudices, if they were called such, but he d’d not see it. He failed to see what possible hearing the existence of Provincialism had upon the question. It was not an impossibility that the General Assembly would itself go first to the wall. He knew that would be the case, if the people of the Colony were of his mind. It having been mentioned that the General Government had promised to introduce the Bill, if they saw nothing objectionable in it, His Honor said that in that case it was pretty sure to pass. If, as Superintendent, he was asked to express an opinion on it he would not do so detrimentally to Iho Bill. The deputation then withdrew. At a special meeting of the Board held this afternoon a report from the Legislative Committee, bringing up the proposed new Bill, was submitted and adopted, with a view of forwarding the Bill to the Commissioner of Customs. The Finance Committee brought up their proposed scale of charges, which were also adopted.