CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 205

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(c) with regard to the engineer:ug and works side of the Port, Mr. Loberts suggested that these continued as hitherto under the Director of Public Works, and that it should be the duty of the Chief Port Executive Officer when any problem arose, in consultation with the Director of Public Works, to see that whatever plan had been dr up received its due share of attention from the Public Works Dpartment. Assuring a unicipality took over public works, then similarly it would be desirable in the interests of economy and getting a spread of technical assistance, that the services of the Municipality's Public Works Department should be made available.

(a) br. Roberts suggested the Director of Public Works and the Manager of the Railway as the Government officers to be included on the Per Advisory Committee. He would not suggest that the Harbour Macer be a member of the Committee but that he attend meetings when necessary to give advice on technical points.

The Lo. Mr. Landale's Views.

Mr

Lidale agreed with what Mr. Roberts had said, but remarked that no own of administration would make any progress unless there was an aph oved plan. He did not think a Port Trust was necessary.

Mr. Trevor's Views.

Mr. Trevor said he agreed with Mr. Roberts's views and he thought the Hon. r. Mcrse's suggestions (Representation No.20) were excellent with regard to the powers of the Committee, which should have the very widest powers. At the same time these powers should be fairly elastic and should be on an experimental basis so that definite powers were not given until a reasonable time had elapsed in order to determine weaknesses and modifications which might be necessary.

The Chairman remarked that if an Advisory Committee or Advisory Board were decided upon, it would be an act of the Government to appoint it. It would not be done by law, it would be a Committee or Board with definite terms of reference given to it by the Government. One of the most important needs was that the Committee should have direct access to the Government.

In the course of a discussion of the respective powers of the Port Director and the Advisory Committee or Board, the Port Director was define as the officer responsible for the administration of the whole of the Harbour arrangem nts with many of the powers of the present Harbour Master↳ In acdition he would be the official

Mr. Trevor responsible for seeing that a y agreed plan was adhered to. though the executive powers given by Government to the Port Director should be statutory as were his own and those of the present Harbour Master, so that he would not be hampered in the administration of the

It was Port by the need to refer all matters to the Committee. suggested that the Advisory Committee which would be a Standing Committee of such weight that Government would give very considerable attention to any proposals submitted by it, would deal with any major development, assisted when necessary possibly by a technic:1 sub-committee, and that the Port Director would be responsible for giving effect to Government's decisions in these matters.

Mr. Trevor justified the suggestion that the terms of reference of the Advisory Committee should be on an experimental basis initially, by saying that it woull be some time before the major plan was put into operation. The 1ɔrt Advisory Committee need not wait for the major plar as it might be something like two years before all the machinery was in motion and there had been appointed a fully fledged Port Director. Meanwhile something could be done almost immediately by an acting officer appointed in order to deal with those matters which were not likely to affect the major plan.