Dept. Seeking Trawler For Marine Research

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 1

Dept. Seeking Trawler For Marine Research

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, May 15.

The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) has approached the Auckland firm of Marine Packers, Ltd., to see if it will sell its second new trawler, now building, to the Marine Department for a research ship. Mr Scott, a former director of the company, ended his association with it before assuming his present portfolio.

This evening he denied suggestions that the department had lent money to the firm to build the first of the two trawlers, which was launched 10 days ago.

Mr Scott performed the launching ceremony. He said this evening that the present Marine Department research vessel Ikatere would be improved at a cost of several thousand pounds, but that it would still be inadequate. He had asked Marine Packers if it would be prepared to let the department take the second trawler and order a third for itself. With the necessary modifications, the cost to the department would be between £28.000 and £33.000. Mr Scott said he had had no reply, but expected that

the firm needed the second trawler for itself. If so, the department might buy an existing vessel. In any event, Mr Scott said, the department would soon design and order a special research ship. An officer of the Marine Department, Captain W. G. Sampson, master of the Ikatere, had spent a week in the first trawler since its launching, at the invitation of the firm, Mr Scott said. He had been observing trial trawls. Mr Scott emphasised that “not one penny" had been given to the firm by the department. Any subsidies

would await the preparation Shortly by the new Fishing Industry Board of a policy for State financial aid to the fishing industry. When that was done, and approved by the Government, money would be lent through the State Advances Corporation under security. The Cable Price Corporation, of Auckland, built the first trawler and is building the second. Mr Scott said Marine Packers was a new firm, which to his knowledge had secured one order of 50 tons of fish for Greece and was negotiating with Japanese buyers.