CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 98

CONFIDENTIAL

Nicol Memo.

104.

APPENDIX I (C)

Col. Rouse,

O.A., D.P.W.

Following the receipt by Government of Sir David Owen's report in 1941, and as Sir David intended to leave the Colony at an early date, I immediately perused it and arranged a meeting with him to discuss certain points that appeared to me to require elucidation. This meeting took place at the Peninsula Hotel, Mr. Dunaan Kennedy also being present. The points raised by me together with Sir David's answers as far as my memory goes were as follows:

a.

b.

d.

•

f.

Over what area was it suggested the Trust should have

control? The proposed Trust should have jursidiction over all the waters of the Colony.

Which sea walls, piers and quays should be transferred to

the Trust? No hard and fast rule could be laid down; but where a sea wall is used primarily as a place for handling cargo or moaring craft, it should be trans- ferred to the Control of the Trust.

Was it intended to duplicate the Engineering staff working on marine works? As the Trust would necessarily require the services of an Engineer, it would probably be possible in the meantime for the Trust's Engineer to undertake the construction, maintenance and repairs of all sea walls and Government Piers in addition, including the sea walls of future reclamations. for his services and for work carried out on behalf of Government would be a matter of accounting.

Payment

Who should control the Water Police? The Trust should have

no control over the, Water Police which body would remain as at present constituted.

When should pier rents be revised? All requests for revision of pier rents should be resisted until immediately prior to the falling in of the pier leases.

What should be done with Marine Right claims? That at the

first opportunity, the question of compensation for Marine Rights be referred to the courts for decision. It appeared to Sir David that too much had been made of this obstacle in the past, and he recommended dealing boldly with the problem by inviting claims.

II.

In Stanley Camp I had ample opportunity to dwell on Harbour matters and as there was no copy of Sir David's report in the Camp I compiled, from memoray, a statement on the subject. Unfortunately the happenings of November 1943, when Mr. Fraser and others lost their lives, sent a wave of extreme caution through the Camp and it was deemed expedient to destroy all papers. I have now re-read the report and would place before you some of the points that have again come to mind.