OKARITO HARBOUR

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1933, Page 5

OKARITO HARBOUR

BILL PASSES HOUSE POWER TO PRIVATE COMPANY. (Per Fnss Association ~ Copyright.) WELLINGTON, March 2. In the House of '.Representatives yesterday / the Okarito 'Harbour Bill was put through all stages and passed. Hon. J. G. Cbbbe explained tiiao the 'Bill gave power to a private company to carry out harbour works at Oknnto, a eawmilling centre in South Wfestlandj and to collect wharfage., charges' as fixed by the Marine Department. Tbs. harbour would open up a large area of white pine country. The Government had no money for the purpose and that was why power was being given to a private company. la the Bill, control of this, harbour is vested in a person or persons or company for a 'term of twenty-five years, and the Minister of Marine, Mr C°bbe.informed the House that it was the intention to authorise a company to control the harbour for that period, bulb no agreements have been signed yet, .The Bill provides for the issue of regulations fixing charges and provides that the rules shall hot be repugnant to the Harbours Act.

* Explaining the measure, Mr C°bb e said that Okarito was the outlet for a large timber area, which was difficult of access by any other means, To develop the harbour, it was necessary to provide a new wharf, and protective works, and to undertake dredging which was estimated to cost between .£20,000 anS £40,000. It was proposed 1 to authorise a company to develop and work the harbour, under regulations approved by the Marine Department; and tlhe Department had to be assured the company was financially strong enough to do this. ■ :'

The company to take over, the harbour ,owned, a .big • block of white pine country, and it had an option over an adjoining block. .It was intended to employ fifty men ib the harbour construction ■ work, and another, hundred ■men at a timber mill. Provision wag made if the •company were .not .able to carry out the work, .for transfer to another company. • ■ ' iMr Jas. O’Brien, Member for .West? land, said there were two thousand million feet of timber in the district, mostly 'white pine, -'This timber was now mature, and if not cut, it would deteriorate. Besides timber, there were isom© very fine gold mining areas ad-jacent,-and they only required testing out. ....

Mr O’Brien said he did n ot believe in companies controlling but. the Govornlneht’ was unable to find the money. ' v ■- ' ■

.Mr W. A. Yeftcli raised the question of principle, and sdlS the Government should make ,su,r e flint when the compfsnjy’s ‘control (ended, the. Hi'jrbour should be handed over to the Government. •

Mr H. E. Holland said that he would have preferred that the Government should have constructed the harbour, ibut since the Governmelit would not do the work, it would be a huge m’fitake to .leave a locality rich _in resources without sea access, seeing that it had no land access. • •

Mr Co-bbe, in reply, said the West, land County Council had been -nuked to take charge of the harbour, but jt had turned that offer down. Ro far, the Government had not entered into any contract, although it had been pressed strongly to do so. Conditions would be drawn up by the Marine Department, and the House could rest apserred that the State would be (safeguarded. a-TPre enre-stion of timber .royalties wot, 1 d also be considered. The (hill was put through all, stages rod was passed at 11.20 p.m:, when the Houi?e Pose. ; ,