Wardens at sea

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33093, 7 December 1972, Page 16

Wardens at sea

Those who use Lyttelton Harbour for recreation will be pleased to learn that the Harbour Board has appointed three wardens with fast boats to control inconsiderate power-boat skippers. For some years boats travelling at high speed—often towing waterskiers—have been able to skirt the beaches, secure in the knowledge that they are almost impossible to identify or control. Authorities which control other stretches of water harassed by a reckless minority of boat users would do well to follow the Lyttelton board’s example. Convictions will not be easy to obtain until boats have to be registered by law or until some adequate system of identification can be imposed by boating clubs. Mr Gordon, as Minister of Marine, last March indicated that he favoured a system of registration; but he said that it would have to wait until 1973. His successor should take early action to ensure that all owners of power-boats obey the restrictions designed to keep coastal waters safe for everyone.