Captain to be charged today?

Press, 25 May 1977, Page 1

Captain to be charged today?

The police may decide today whether to lay charges against a Japanese tuna boat skipper, after an alleged assault on a Lyttelton Harbour Board pilot. Chief Inspector M. Lawrence, of the Christchurch police, who will make the final decision, said yesterday that “inquiries were progressing.” He hoped a decision would be made no later than today. Chief Inspector Lawrence said that the police had no authority to hold the vessel in port, as far as he was concerned. The matter arose from an incident on Monday, when a Harbour Board pilot, Captain J. F. E. Crawford, was attempting to shift the Takashima Maru No. 8 from the cattle

jetty to another berth in port. It is believed that Captain Crawford was manhandled by two crew members as he was about to take over the controls of the vessel. The Japanese consular affairs officer in Christchurch (Mr H. Tsukakoshi) called on the Lyttelton police yesterday morning to obtain information about the case. He said later that he was not in Lyttelton in any legal or diplomatic capacity, but simply to provide assistance if it was necessary. The matter seemed to have been caused by a lack of communication on the part of both parties, and nothing serious was intended, Mr Tsukakoshi said.