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A young Scottish engineer, James Balfour, who came to NZ in the early 1860s was appointed Marine Engineer in 1866 and charged with administration of the Colony's maritime affairs. A Marine Board of appointed representatives had been set up in 1862 and a year later its powers were vested in the Governor with extended responsibilities and this led to the 1866 the appointment of Balfour to responsibility for administering the Marine Act and the Steam Navigation Act. What had promised to be an outstanding career for Balfour ended tragically when he was drowned at Timaru in 1869. However, by then he had set solid foundations for the eventual establishement of an independent Marine Department, which had operated under the auspecies of the Postmaster General. and later the Commissioner of Customs. It was not until 1879 that establisment of a seperate department was recognised officially, but it was 1903 when statutory recognition of a Ministry of Marine was declared, although the terminology "Marine Depatment" had been in general use since 1892. The sphere of influence of the Department was impressive, with the history's foreword explaining that it "extended into all aspects on NZ's social, industrial and economic life," This was not an exaggerated view if it is recalled that most of the country's trade --- coastal, regional or international --- was then carried by ships, as was passenger transport and these and other factors crossed into ecronomic affairs. The Departmen's brief of responsibilities was also extensive, ranging from regulating safety at sea, lighthouses and other navigation aids, to administering legislation relating to all aspects of sea-going, including ship manning and surveys, harbours oversight, marine qualification certifications, inspections (including shore-based boilers, lifts and cranes until 1950). Among many other functions was maintaining castaway depots on remote islands administered by NZ. Another important assignment was overeeing the fishing industry and research in that area. Since the Department celebrated its centennial, marked by this publication, it has undergone many changes of name and responsibilities with the latter transferred to a number of other Government organisations. Nevertherless, the Marine Department of yesteryear set standards and objectives that remain valid today. This a little used ex-library copy. First edition, published by the Marine Department in 1969, 144 pages including five appendices and index, illustrated with b/w photos throughout, fold out plan of departmental structure (appenedix II) and one oyster bed survey plan. Black hard covers are VG with gilt spine titles with gilt/red/blue/white departmental crest to front with residual tape marks to both boards, front pastedown also has vertical tape mark, the FFEP a library card pocket top right and library stamp lower corner, library stamp with codes centred on title page verso, small library stamp top edge first page of text block and lower edge last index page, no other library matkings and text block otherwise VG+. Plain white DJ has coloured Departmental crest to front with black spine titles, also light tape mark shadows, short tear lower front edge, not price clipped.
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