‘No approaches on fleet base’

Press, 17 September 1976, Page 9

‘No approaches on fleet base’

PA Wellington. The Government has received no approaches from the Soviet Union about the establishment of a fishing base in the Chatham Islands, according to the Minister of Trade and Industry (Mr AdamsSchneider).

He was commenting on a suggestion fro man islander that a Russian base might ease the economic problems of the Chathams.

The Government had already considered and rejected a Soviet request to. set up a base in New Zealand, and if a further request was received for facilities in a specific area, “We would give the same response,” he said.

Mr Adams-Schneider was replying on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Taiboys) to a Parliamentary question

from Miss C. E. Dewe (Nat., Lyttelton). Mr John Haugh, a carpenter and former fisherman, said in a telegram from the Chatham Islands to the Wellington Newspaper, the “Dominon,” that a Russian base would mean regional-development assistance for the islands.

Russian investment Russian investment would relieve pressure on the Government for a 52.2 M loan to finance airport reconstruction and other work in the islands, said Mr Haugh, adding that the Russians could be given air-landing rights if they financed the airport work.

He claimed that some members of the Chatham Islands County Council would favour a Soviet fishing base. “We would definitely welcome the extra money that would come from a fishing base,” he said.