HARBOR CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 195, 22 September 1909, Page 2

HARBOR CONFERENCE.

OPENED IN WELLINGTON. By Telegraph.-Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday, liio annual conference of the Harbors' Association opened this moraine Air. T. M. Wilford, M.P., cUairman of the Wellington Harbor Board, presided. He said that important matter* iwuld come before the delegates, meluding the Harbor Boards Bill to b» introduced by the Minister of Marine. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE'S BEPOET The executive committee report stated that the. number of affiliated board* was now twenty-two, and that the financial statement showed a credit balanec of £7B. The passage of the Harbors Consolidation Act had effected on» of the objects the Association was formed to promote. la the opinion of the executive the clause m tho superannuation schema providing that a united fund shall be supported by a joint and several guarantee by. each of the authorities in the combination, bars the wav of action t« establish o fund, and it recommend* mat the Conference should obtain an amendment fo the proposal regarding lio payment of pensions to ofd mP oycea as a temporary expedient until we Act becomes operative.

THE CHATHAM ISLANDS. ' The Conference decided to draw the attention of the Government to tho anomalous position iff which the Chat?hTw?f island. j„ that latitude stand in relation to pilotage charges as defined in the Act, and requesting that those islands be brought within the exemption clause. THE CONSTITUTION OF BOADS. , 1 < L , " ?Rt V ) " of thc constitution „f harbor boards was discussed. At tk» ffi of >'i 1,8 ,lu<n,Bsion J,r ' w - 3 **™ Jwu *i •" ovcll thttt ">« Conferenceshould take into consideration the qua- / tion of the constitution of the boards, ' and later o n | lc ngked t0 haye %j^A \«m UV "'"""nendation that the .HieXland Board should consist of fifteen, two to be elected by the Governmen and the rest by the ratepayers. All. Moore (Kniapoi) moved an amendment that thc matter be discussed six months hence. Some delegates urged that the Coueoplc as to the constitution of boards. (tiers held that the Government had a "ght to know thc Conference's opinion. ;i le « m «i«mcnt, which wa» seconded by Mr Irostiek (CJiristehureh) was dc-

The motion of Mr. Napier that the members of harbor •boards be electa u.v the electors of local bodies with representation of the Government on auch "nnrcl, by nomination, was discussed at considerable length. «,.!''V Hon ;, MiWie, »°n (Aueklaad), in suonding the motion, said he would !i„»« ,0 s '' e * llo Gov emment nomhje done „«,. Wlth> , )ut m not wfc h eonld be achieved now. Mr. Milligim (Oamaru) moved ra amendment to strike out the words atvlL 'i M ' t1 "" doin K "«'*y w '*h Oolernment representation. Mr. Jull (Wnipawa), in seconding (himen? .'T' ""° lnred t,,at th « ««««- ment had no more right to be worn-«™t<-«l on the barter board than o» county and borough councils. °* The amendment to exclude Govepi. ment nominations was carried by 17 („ 11- Ihe amended motion that meni. »<•" of harbor boards be elated hi oleetor, of local Dodi* wasX^

EXEMPTION' PROM ABBITRAniON