Parties ready for warship

Press, 2 August 1983, Page 8

Parties ready for warship

PA Auckland The Auckland Harbour Board will give the U.S.S. Texas a wide berth when the nuclear-powered warship steams into the Waitemata harbour this morning. From 8 a.m. no craft will be allowed within 600 metres of the designated anchorage point, which is about 650 metres north of the Bledisloe Wharf, said a board spokesman yesterday.

However, once the vessel is anchored — expected to be about 9 a.m. — boats will be allowed within 100 metres of the warship. Four shipping movements are scheduled for the Auckland waterfront early today and these are expected to be completed by 8 a.m. Ferries between Devonport and the city will not be affected. The Auckland police chief, Assistant Commissioner Bryan Gibson, said that a 24-hour guard would be kept around the Texas while she was moored. Unauthorised persons

going closer than 100 metres of the warship would risk arrest. Nuclear protesters will gather today and tomorrow in Auckland for rallies. On Friday evening protesters will march up Queen Street to Aotea Square, which will be the scene of a 24-hour vigil featuring speakers, music, and street theatre. The Labour members of Parliament, Ms Helen Clark and Mr P. B. Goff will be among those protesting on the harbour today. The Peace Squadron now expects about 300 boats to join in the protest, after a meeting with about 100 skippers registered with the group. Ms Clark and Mr Goff have arranged to go on Peace Squadron boats. Mr Goff said that he was not planning any heroics. “This is just my personal statement against the ship,” he said. “The world seems to be on a path to nuclear destruction.” Ms Clark said that she could not exclude the possi-

bility that the Texas carried nuclear weapons, and the dangers of it being nuclearpowered were sufficiently great for not wanting it to enter the harbour. "I am assured the boat I will be on will be well away from the ship, and not involved in any trouble,” she said.

A Peace Squadron spokesman, Jim Keogh, said that the meeting on Sunday was the biggest since a nuclear vessel visited New Zealand, and feeling among the captains was very strong. “Boats are already setting out from Thames and Coromandel. The possibility of someone getting hurt is something we try to avoid, but we have contingency plans to deal with it. “There will be medical and rescue services on some of our boats. We have our own rescue fleet. There is a refuge at Cheltenham Beach where people can be taken.” Members were prepared to get arrested if that was needed to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons.