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same level as that proposed for the Trustees of the Trust, a member pointed out that such a body already existed in the Harbour Advisory Board, but that this had performed no very useful functions. It being explained that the question envisaged a full-time officer in a position to plan ahead, instead of the already overburdened Harbour Master, it was objected that this might lead to "softness" in place of the "hardness" to be expected of a Trust.
The Commodore expressed the view that during the three-year experimental period the functions of the Chairman would be inspection, planning and co-ordination, for which he would need no staff other than a stenographer,
He expressed doubt as to whether the regulations or by-laws of the Trust should be subject to the approval of the Governor in Council, but it was pointed out that this was required in the case of the by-laws made by any statutory body, a.g. the Urban Council.
The Commodore stressed the importance of the Chairman having the confidence of the business community.
The Bishop of Victoria stated that a memorandum on the subject of the Trust had been prepared by Professor Robertson, himself and others and that this had been submitted to the Secretary of State and was available in London.
had been:-
The principal points made in this memorandum
(1) That the attitude of the Owen Report wa S cynical, namely that a Port Trust was not really necessary, but that it would be popular and should there fore be formed as soon as possible;
(2) That the major facilities of the Port were unquestionably extremely well run, but that certain miner ones were not so well run and required attention. Therefore, if there was to be a Port Trust, it should have power to operate where necessary to secure efficiency.
(3) That the Report seemed to contemplate providing established concerns with protection against competition and the deliberate exclusion of official operation even when it would tend towards increased efficiency.
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The conclusion, therefore, was that, if there was to be a Port Trust it should have powers to operate; if the Trust was to have powers of control only, an extension of the present organization was the most that was necessary.
It was considered that the terms of the Report would, if published, give a most unfortunate impression to-day of Britain's commercial intentions.
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On the question/