When this Bill was being discussed on Second Stage, while welcoming it and feeling that it was a measure that was needed at the present time and in the circumstances prevailing, I expressed a certain amount of concern about section 4. In that section the Minister takes complete control over the operation and development of fishery harbour centres. While this is necessary, as I say, at present, the Minister might find himself in the position later on, when things improve and when the idea of co-operation among fishermen is developed to the point to which it should be developed, to bring in a co-operative to do this type of work and to hand over the authority which he now seeks in this section. It may be that the next section leaves the door open for him to do this. I am not quite certain about that, but I should like to feel that it is possible. I can see a situation where it might be much wiser not to have this type of work carried out by the State but to let it be carried out by a co-operative organisation or by some other local interest. I should like to hear from the Minister whether he considers that he can divest himself of these powers if he thinks it safe and wise to do this at a later date when things settle down in certain fishing harbours that have not been settled for a long time and when people really get working together on this job.
Committee on Finance. - Fishery Harbour Centres Bill, 1967: Committee and Final Stages.
If in due time things came around to the point where delegation of control was considered to be in the best interests of the development of any of these harbours, or where any function relating to them which is now being taken on by the Minister could be relinquished it would be possible to do it under this Bill. Undoubtedly it would only be considered at some later date when we had seen how things had gone and whether it was desirable to do so.
Is that freedom contained in the next section?
No; it is in subsection (4) of this section.
If the Minister is satisfied that the legislation we are now putting through enables him to divest himself of these powers and pass them on to some other perhaps more suitable authority at a date when everybody would be ready for them, without bringing in fresh legislation, I will be perfectly happy.
I am satisfied that can be done if it is found that some more suitable arrangement would be desirable.