Inquiry Into Loss Of Chathams Vessels

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32016, 17 June 1969, Page 26

Inquiry Into Loss Of Chathams Vessels

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 16. The Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) announced today that a preliminary inquiry into the loss of the two fishing boats en route to the Chatham Islands was starting. It was virtually certain that a formal inquiry would follow, he said.

The Minister made this announcement when challenging the Leaded of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) to substantiate charges he made on Saturday that fishing in the Chathams had been allowed to “run wild,” and that this was a contributing cause to the loss of the two fishing boats Kea and La Paloma.

The loss of two more boats and six more lives was to be deplored, said Mr Scott, but it must be remembered that these two vessels were en route to the Chathams, the Kea under authorised tow in convoy, while the La Paloma was an unauthorised addition to the convoy. “Some claims have been made that there are too many boats fishing at the Chathams, and if this is what Mr Kirk means when he claims that fishing there has run wild, then I do not agree with his assertion. “For while some 140 boats are registered at the Chathams, it must be remembered that a lot of these are small boats, that they are not all crayfishing at the same time, that some are under repair, while others are in New Zealand ports for survey,” said the Minister. Mr Kirk said in Christchurch last night that there were inaccuracies in Mr Scott’s remarks. “For example, the Minister says that there are some 140 boats, that a lot of these are small, and that they are not all crayfishing at the same time. “A telephoned inquiry to official sources in the Chatham Islands made tonight discloses that there are 236 boats registered in the Chathams, or almost 100 more than the Minister says. More Going "The overwhelming majority of the boats registered are

in fact at the islands and are fishing. What is even more disturbing is that official advice is that more boats are

going, in addition to the 236 boats registered. “This will lead to serious overcrowding of the few safe anchorages about the island. “The Minister knows, in spite of his protestation to the contrary, that craypots arebeing pirated. The Minis-

ter denied this before he went to the Chathams and was the first to confirm it on his return. “I am concerned both for the safety of the people who are working this fishery and to ensure that the fishery itself is not depleted by unrestrained fishing,” said Mr Kirk. “The situation has been allowed to run wild and, lured on by stories of exceptional earnings, boats have gone from many parts of New Zealand to engage in fishing there. “The Minister might reflect that, although it is more than three years since the crayfish boom started He has still not got round to appointing a full-time Marine Departmnt officer to be stationed on the islands. No visible signs exist of any intention to provide a house for such an officer. The Marine Department does not have and apparently does not intend to get, a vessel which would enable some policing of the fishery to be undertaken. It took nearly two years finally to get approval for the Chatham Island County Council to strike a levy on cray tails and thus obtain the funds to provide moorings and a slipway for fishing boats,” said Mr Kirk. He said there was an "absolute refusal” to limit the number of registered fishing boats at the islands. “With limited moorings and anchorages on an exposed coast frequently lashed by high winds this becomes a vitally important matter.”