Police Unable To Stop Raft Voyage

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29078, 15 December 1959, Page 17

Police Unable To Stop Raft Voyage

(Rec. 11.20 p.m.)

SYDNEY, December 14.

Police and maritime authorities said this afternoon they were powerless to stop the 28-year-old Estonian, Peter Pedaja, from sailing to New Zealand in his crude oil-drum raft.

Both the Maritime Service Board and the Federal Department of Shipping and Transport have consulted legal advisers on the issue.

They have told the police that Pedaja cannot be prevented sailing the raft. He plans to sail 1400 miles across the Tasman to New Zealand.

The raft comprises seven oildrums welded together. Pedaja spent today repairing the raft on La Perouse Beach, at Botany Bay.

Last night, he attempted to set sail, but a stiff 25-knot southerly wind prevented him from even clearing Botany Bay. He had to be towed back to a jetty, where he slept the night in the cockpit of the raft Today, die was awaiting a welder to correct what he called structural faults in the raft Sergeant A. R. Hutchings, of Malabar, interviewed Pedaja soon after lunch Pedaja showed his cheap Ij-inch diameter compass, with which he hopes to guide his raft to New Zealand. His only other equipment consists of a 30gallon fresh water tank, some canned food, and a small oil navigation lamp. He told reporters that a transistor radio he plans to take with him would act as a “direction finder.” By using the radio’s aerial he hopes to be able to “beam in” on a New Zealand radio station if he loses his ingsSergeant Hutchings said later that he could not prevent Pedaja from sailing the raft. "At the moment, senior police

officers are considering what further action, if any, can be taken,” he added. Pedaja told the sergeant: “The raft is very uncomfortable. Some times I wish I were not in it. “As it is, I can’t control it properly and I am having some structural readjustments done this afternoon. I will try it out later.” Pedaja has been in Australia 11 years, but is not naturalised. Two years ago, he attempted to sail from Darwin to Timor, in a raft similar to the one he has now, but asked to be towed back by a passing ship when only 20 miles from Australia. His reason for the latest trip is that he wants to attract publicity to- himself and encourage the Estonian Communist Government to allow his aged father to migrate to Australia.

“The Communists won’t let him go unless they can get some favourable publicity from it,” he said. “When I reach New Zealand I will be world news. Then when I try again for his release, they may let him go.” Two senior police officers made an eleventh-hour appeal to Pedaja this afternoon to abandon his attempt. They are Superintendent E. J. Barnes and Inspector L. Coble.

They drove to La Perouse Beach where Pedaja was making last-minute repairs to his raft Powerless to officially prevent him, Superintendent Barnes pleaded with Pedaja to think of those who might have to rescue him.

“This is a silly, dangerous business and will achieve nothing,” Superintendent Barnes told him. About 40 persons on the beach shouted in agreement when Inspector Coble said Pedaja was committing suicide by attempting to sail the raft Pedaja told the officers he did not want anyone to endanger his life by looking for him. “I know what I am doing—if the raft is unsafe when I try it out soon, 1 will think it over again, he told the police officers.