LIFEBOAT AT KAIKOURA

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30368, 18 February 1964, Page 10

LIFEBOAT AT KAIKOURA

Use For Old Sunnier Craft When the Sumner Lifeboat Institution eventually gets sufficient funds tv purchase a replacement boat the present lifeboat could be stationed at Kaikoura as one of a ch" n of lifeboat stations to be established around the New Zealand coast, said the secretary of the institution (Mr W. J. Baguley).

New Zealand was not life-boat-conscious. he said. Tin re were 155 lifeboat stations aTOund the coast of Britain. AU were run voluntarily by lifeboat leagues, which did their own fund-raising. The Sumner Lifeboat Institution had just established its own league, and he hoped others would appear throughout the country, Mr Baguley said.

He said that when the present lifeboat. Rescue 11, was replaced it should be handed to a fishermen's group in Kaikoura. It would be a valuable asset because of the increasing numbers of private boating and fishing parties visiting the area and the considerable amount of commercial fishing carried on there. With the Sumner lifeboat station it could provide the nucleus of a string of stations giving protection around the New Zealand coast. £3500 Still Needed

The institution has so far raised £l5OO of the £5OOO which it requires for a replacement lifeboat. The replacement craft will be purchased in England and will be refitted before shipment to New Zealand. It will be of about 35ft, selfrighting, and with cabin space. Mr Baguley said a new lifeboat would cost from £35,000 to £40.000. which was far beyond the institution's resources. A reconditioned craft would give equally good service.