FISHING DISPUTE Govt Not Taking Case To Court

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31322, 18 March 1967, Page 1

FISHING DISPUTE Govt Not Taking Case To Court

(Neu> Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 15. The Government has decided not to join Japan in submitting the question of the, international legal validity of New Zealand’s 12-mile fishing limit to the International Court of Justice. As an alternative, the Government has consulted the Japanese Government on the possibility of reaching an arrangement to enable Japanese vessels to have a limited period, or phase-out, of fishing in the New Zealand fishing zone, providing the arrangement protects New Zealander’s interests.

The Government informed the Japanese Government in Tokyo of its attitude this week.

The Prime Minister, (Mr Holyoake) said tonight: “The Government has informed the Government of Japan that although New Zealand fully appreciates and acknowledges the spirit in which Japan made its proposal, that the issues relating to Japanese fishing in New Zealand waters should be submitted to the International Court of Justice, the Government is unable to accept that proposal on the basis suggested by Japan. “The Japanese proposal put to us during 1966 has been very carefully examined and the Government has assembled expert advice from both within New Zealand and overseas. Legal Issues

“It is not appropriate for me at this stage to make an extended review of our legal position, but I can indicate that our consideration of the legal issues has affirmed and reinforced the Government’s views about the international legal validity of its action in stabilising the fishing zone. “The Government has felt

that it would not be fitting in the circumstances to agree to join with Japan in submitting this question to the International Court,” said Mr Holyoake. The Government was concerned to dispose of the dispute over the fishing zone which, if prolonged, could risk impairing the political and trading relations which had

been built between New Zealand and Japan. There could be that risk if the issue were prolonged, and other cases indicated that this could be up to three years, said Mr Holyoake. “For the reasons I have mentioned, and while maintaining our legal standpoint, we have at the same time opened up with the Japanese Government the possibility of our reaching an agreement to enable their vessels to have a limited period, or phase-out, of fishing in the fishing zone, provided the arrangement is in a satisfactory form embodying the conditions necessary to protect New Zealand’s interest N.Z: Industry “The Government would, of course, be concerned to take account of the needs in our own fishing industry in our coastal waters, and to give effect to its policy of fostering the current expansion and development of the industry by all appropriate means. “If a practicable solution is secured the Government envisages that the results would be embodied in an arrangement which would, before being concluded, be placed before Parliament,” said Mr Holyoake.