Powers Of Arrest Denied Fishermen

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31801, 4 October 1968, Page 1

Powers Of Arrest Denied Fishermen

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 3. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) reiterated in Parliament today that the Government would not amend the Fisheries Act to give New Zealand fishermen powers to apprehend in cases where Japanese or other fishermen breached the New Zealand law.

Mr Holyoake was replying to questions from Mr R. M. Barclay (Lab., New Plymouth) concerning the incident at the week-end in which Japanese dories were allegedly intruding into New Zealand’s territorial waters off North Taranaki.

The Prime Minister said that the power to arrest foreign fishing vessels at sea would remain with the proper legal authorities. Mr Holyoake said that the feelings of New Zealand fishermen often ran high on these occasions and it was not advisable that they should be given such powers. It was not accepted international practice to follow the course suggested. Mr Holyoake said he was informed that there were reports of suspected Japanese fishing activities within six miles of the coast on September 28 and these were passed to the authorities. However, at the time there was no naval vessel in the area. i The Prime Minister said infringements might have been discovered on the Sunday and Monday if it had been possible to get a naval vessel to the spot. On the Monday an Orion aircraft went out and identified the mother ship involved.