3-MILE LIMIT Encroachments Not Tolerated’

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30560, 1 October 1964, Page 3

3-MILE LIMIT Encroachments Not Tolerated’

(.Veto Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, September 30. Commenting on the encroachment of a Japanese fishing boat in New Zealand territorial waters last night, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said today the Government I was not prepared to tolerate intrusions “of this kind.”

“We are on the watch for them, and appropriate action will be taken whenever any overseas boat is found fishing inside New Zealand limits," Mr Holyoake said. “I shall be taking immediate steps to make the facts known to the Japanese Government,” said the Prime Minister. Mr Holyoake said he would like to make it clear the New Zealand Government had the co-operation of the Japanese authorities. The Prime Minister said there had been several previous cases this year of Japanese boats caught fishing within New Zealand limits and in each case the matter had been brought to the attention of the Japanese Government. The ship concerned had been promptly recalled to Japan, he said. Mr Holyoake said the Japanese authorities had taken quite vigorous steps to warn its fishing industry of the consequence of intrusion. “Unfortunately, these warn-

ings have apparently not yet been heeded by a few Japanese fishing boats which are foolish enough to take the risk of intrusion in the hope of escaping detection.” The Prime Minister said the Government was satisfied the action taken by the Japanese authorities in recalling offending fishing boats amounted to a very substantial financial penalty. In the cases of boats recalled after earlier protests, the loss to the owner had been estimated about £lO,OOO a vessel. “We hope that consequences of this kind will be a sufficient deterrent, but, if not, we may have to consider other measures. Mr Holyoake declined to say what form the “other measures” might take. In every case in which a foreign boat was found within New Zealand limits, a protest was lodged with the Government concerned with a request for disciplinary action and measures to prevent recurrences.