Damage to liferafts

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33423, 3 January 1974, Page 2

Damage to liferafts

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 2.

Vandals damaged boats of the Auckland fishing fleet last night, concentrating on the most vital piece of equipment on board—the liferafts.

In the Donna Marie the liferaft was torn open and left (on deck with its equipment .scattered. The Sandford Company’s fleet manager, Mr W. Jennings, took it away I for checking, and possible repacking if the damage is not serious.

In the Waipawa, among others, the raft in its container was pulled from its mounts and thrown off the wheelhouse top on to the deck.

The Waipawa’s skipper, Mr E. C. Mansfield, said today that fishermen might take the law into their own hands if they caught anybody aboard their boats.

"Fishermen are a law to themselves, and they are just as liable to give any vandals the same chance of surviving, trying to swim home 20

miles, in bad weather without a liferaft,” he said. “What sort of mentality

| have people who will attempt I to destroy a man’s last 1 chance at sea?” » An Auckland police spokesi man said trawlermen would f be advised not to throw trespassers into the sea. “They have plenty of

powers to remove people from their boat's,” the spokesman said.