CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 192

(a)

That a case might be made out for the formation of

a Port Trust to own and operate all the Port's facilities, resulting in the Port being run as a single unit, and thereby facilitating the co-ordination of policy with regard to develop- ment and labour, and avoiding the duplication of services. It was remarked however that such a scheme, which would involve the acquisition of facilities and compensation to the existing owners amounting to a very large sum, and would involve the transfer by Govern- ment to the Port Trust of its foreshore rights and property, apparently was not envisaged.

(e) That the possibility of the Government agreeing to

the transfer to the Port Trust of its foreshore rights and property was a remote one, particularly in view of the likelihood of conflicting demands between Port interests and the need for reclaiming land for development in this land-hungry Colony.

(f) That the belief that the Port is a source of revenue to the Government is incorrect and that a Port Trust, as could be seen from the preliminary estimate submitted to the Committee, would only be solvent if its revenue included the revenue from ferry licences and royalties, and that a strong case for the Port Trust to receive the whole of the revenue from the ferries could not be made out, it being pointed out that the Port Trust might with as much justice expect to receive a royalty from the use of a tunnel or bridge if one were erected.

(g) That a Port Trust might be prepared to go ahead with a

development plan in circumstances of political

uncertainty which deterred private enterprise. was remarked that this point was debatable and that Government itself would certainly be in no weaker position to carry out such work if necessary.

(h) That a variety of plans for harbour development have

been prepared and none adopted and that the result- ing uncertainty had retarded development by private interests, and that the adoption of an agreed plan is the key to the whole problem of improving the facilities of the harbour.

(1) That a body of six or eight Commissioners in touch with

harbour matters could conveniently advise the

Director of Public Works as to the annual programme for harbour works for approval by the Legislative Assembly.

(j) That experience of the working of the Port Executive

Committee during the past year, suggested that a similar body could co-ordinate the views as to what was necessary, from time to time, to improve facilities or the administration of the harbour.

(k) That the appointment of a single energetic official who

would ascertain the views and desires of the various interests and would see how far they could be given effect to by using the existing administrative and operating arrangements, and who would follow up the progress made, would do much to improve the administra- tion of the Port.