Volunteer Turned Back From Beach

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31723, 5 July 1968, Page 1

Volunteer Turned Back From Beach

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 4. An Eastbourne man said today at the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the Wahine that he was prevented by police from going to the aid of survivors landing from the ship on the eastern coastline of Wellington Harbour.

lan Donaldson Mitchell, aged 27, said he was twice stopped from going along the coast by policemen stationed at a gate on the seafront at the south end of Eastbourne township. A dirt road winds several miles around the coast to Pencarrow lighthouse from the gate. Mr Mitchell was giving evidence on the eighth day of the inquiry, which is under the chairmanship of a Wellington stipendiary magis-

trate, Mr R. D. Jamieson. Mr Mitchell said he was near the Eastbourne bus depot when the first liferaft floated ashore. It was empty. He tried to go through the gate to where two other liferafts were coming ashore but was stopped by a policeman. He was wearing a sports coat and trousers, and was told by the policemen, “You are no good along here dressed like that.” He went home at the policeman’s suggestion and changed his clothes.

He returned later, hoping he would be able to help the survivors who, he believed, would come ashore, because of tidal conditions, as tar south as two thirds of the way to Pencarrow lighthouse. Mr Mitchell said three policemen again stopped him at the gate. “One of them said, ’Where do you think you are going?' He said nobody was allowed to go through the gate.”

Mr Mitchell said he went home again but returned about 7.15 p.m. and, with others, searched the coastline until 1 a.m. for bodies and personal property. He said one policeman told him to scour the hillsides. He demurred and asked the policemen If local knowledge was going to be used. “He said, ‘Local knowledge doesn’t count in matters like this.’ Then he referred to the fact that New Zealand had the finest search and rescue organisation in the world. I was told to do what I was told.”

Mr W. R. Birks, for the police, said that evidence would be given at the inquiry

that some people had gone to the area “to stare.” Mr Mitchell: I didn't see anyone who was just staring. Questioned further by Mr Birks, Mr Mitchell said he had tried to make it clear to policemen at the gate what his specialised local knowledge was. He had lived in Eastbourne most of his life. “He (the policeman) started in a gently belligerent manner, saying, ’You can’t get past here.’ ” The constable said nobody was allowed through the gate, and that Mr Mitchell might as well go away. Mr Birks: All you can say is that he was not the best diplomat in the world. Is that what you were given to understand?

Mr Mitchell: I would say so. He agreed with Mr Birks that he took exception to being asked to search the hill side of the road during the evening. Mr Birks: Did you know that early that afternoon at least two survivors had come ashore and in their desperation had had to scramble 50 feet or more up?

Mr Mitchell said he had heard a rumour that people had been found there, but one portion of the hill was a slip face.

“I was not going to climb that piece of hill to break my neck when he (the policeman) had the view that an exhausted person, say six hours after leaving the boat, was going to climb that hill face.”