'People have right to demonstrate’

Press, 10 November 1983, Page 1

'People have right to demonstrate’

PA Auckland Commander Bill Bower, commander of U.S.S. Phoenix, was adamant yesterday that people should be allowed to. demonstrate. Minutes after his 6000tonne submarine had picked her way through Auckland’s protest fleet, he said, “I do not know what your constitution says, but ours says people have a right to demonstrate if they wish. That is fine.”

At a press conference in the nuclear submarine, however, Commander Bower said there was no need for protesters to endanger his ship or their own vessels. “I am a small-boat owner and I would not do with mine what they are doing with theirs,” he said. The genial submarine commander said the protest was the first of its kind he had seen.

“I was surprised,” he said.,, “I thought there would be a 5 lot more people there. My only worry was 7 for their 1 health and welfare.”

Commander Bower said he “backed up” the submarine’s engines twice to give police time to clear a path. “We avoided any really close situations and the police were just super,” he said. "They were so well rehearsed and competent and they looked like they had things well in hand.”