THE APPOINTMENT OF PILOT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 800, 18 January 1910, Page 3

THE APPOINTMENT OF PILOT.

At the November meeting of the Harbour Board, when applications for the position of pilot were considered, Mr F. Lawton was appointed subject to the approval of the Marine Department, and his application and credentials were forwarded ou to the Secretary for Marine for this approval. The Marine Department advised that this was not necessary aud Mr Lawton was appointed to the position.

At yesterday’s Board meeting the correspondence from the Marine Department was read. The first letter was dated November 24th and stated that under the provisions of The Harbours Act 1908 the making of the appointment devolves upon the Board and the approval of the Marine Department was not required. The Secretary for Marine stated, however, that when that department appoints pilots for the ports under its control where vessels are piloted from the shore by means of shore signals, candidates are required to comply with the requirements of paragraph 6 of clause 12 of the harbour by-laws which are attached to the general harbour regulations which provides that a candidate applying for the appointment of pilot must have served at least one year as master or chief mate of a vessel capable of entering such harbour and must pass an examination before a Board as to his ability to carry out the duties.

A telegram from the Secretary for Marine, dated November 26, advised that if the Harbour Board desired to have Mr Lawton examined it would have to make a by-law prescribing conditions or adopting clause twelve of the Department’s by-laws. A further telegram from the secretary stated that he did not know Mr Lawton and could not therefore express any opinion as to his suitability. From the Secretary to the Marine Department, advising that when the Department appoints pilots, the candidates are required to comply with the requirements of clause 12 of Harbour By-laws, —lt was decided on the motion of Mr Nash, seconded by Mr Wilson, that the Secretary for Marine be asked to arrange for the examination of Mr Lawton as pilot, in terms of the Harbours’ regulations.