Assistant, No Chief At Chathams

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31975, 30 April 1969, Page 1

Assistant, No Chief At Chathams

The Marine Depart-; ment’s first permanent appointment at the! Chatham Islands, its “most far-flung officer,”! is clerical assistant to I the senior surveyor of ships. Applications for one person to be senior surveyor, marine superintendent and inspector: of fisheries were called for in January and closed early: in February. But no appointment has been made. The position was advertised at a salary of $4190; to $4450 a year, with an isolation allowance of $lBO for a single man and $270 (

for a married man, plus $45 for each child. Miss Patricia Reid, daughter I of Mr D. S. Reid, the Resi-[ dent Commissioner in the: Chathams since 1958. is the; clerical assistant to the non-, existent permanent senior! surveyor of ships. to February, Miss Reid had I a week’s intensive training at: the head office and district! office of the Marine Depart-; ment in Wellington. Before her appointment she taught! lat the Te One School in the; I Chathams. Pending the appointment of I the senior surveyor. Miss Reid, who lives with her family. is I [assisting the islands police-1 man, Constable B. Hampton.! who acts as marine superin-' tendent, for about $l7O a I year.

In the meantime, ship surveyors and fisheries inspectors are being flown to and from the Chathams at intervals to inspect and police the ISO--200 trawlers and dories crayfishing. A permanent Marine Department official would require a house and a launch iand crew to do his triple [duties efficiently. No house is available but ithe Ministry of Works could build one within five months. The money would have to be provided from the estimates of the Internal Affairs DeiPartment, which is responsible for administration of the ;Chathams. ' In the event of a cut in Internal Affairs Department . estimates a house for another

■ department might be first to i 8°The Minister of Marine < Mr Scott) said in the Chathains 1 in January that a substantial • vessel would be required for a fisheries patrol launch In the rough seas and his de- ■ partment was looking into it. A vessel at least 45ft. i capable of 12 knots, with a i crew of two is estimated to be the minimum requirement. t The Manne Department in I February had * long-wheel- . base utility vehicle shipped ■ from I.j nelton to the 1 Chathams for use by its ■ officer. So a house a patrol • launch and a permanent ship ■ -.urvei or-marine superintend-ent-fi Series inspector are now i required for safety vigilance an I enforcement of fishing •'r-julations at the islands.