‘Confusion’ over fishery launches

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32879, 30 March 1972, Page 2

‘Confusion’ over fishery launches

(Krom Our Own Reporter)

NELSON, March 29.

Wide inquiries were made into the ability of the New Zealand shipbuilding industry to build four fishery patrol vessels for the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Chief of Naval Staff (Rear-Admiral L. G. Carr) told a meeting of the Auckland Navy League this week.

The Minister of Defence (Mr McCready), when asked in Nelson why the New Zealand shipbuilding industry had been refused tender rights, gave Rear-Admiral Carr’s address as an answer. A lack of understanding of the fishery protection requirements had given rise to confused comment on New Zealand’s shipbuilding capacity, said Admiral Carr.

“The development of such craft is an expensive and highly technical subject which few shipbuilders and designers can afford to undertake, because of the necessity for considerable scientific and technical re-

search facilities, as well as heavy capital investment in plant,” he said. The overseas contractors had been asked to consider having all or part of the contract being done in New Zealand yards, but this had been found to be uneconomic. “One of the terms of the contract is that it is to be hoped that a percentage of New Zealand components will be incorporated in the craft. The slipping facility, which is part of the contract, will be made by a New Zealand company, sub-contracting for the successful tenderer,” he said. a