Protesters hinder arrival of sub.

Press, 24 March 1984, Page 2

Protesters hinder arrival of sub.

PA Auckland Confusion reigned for 30 minutes on Auckland Harbour yesterday with the arrival of the United States nuclear powered submarine Queenfish. Nearly a dozen yachts and launches were pushed out of the vessel’s way by the police. A big trimaran, the Phoenix, was virtually hoisted stem out of the water by two tugs as the bulk of the submarine loomed within 10 metres.

Two of the Phoenix crew were tossed into the water and scrambled to safety on the buffer tyres of the tug Hikurangi.

Scores of small craft

charged the submarine and police inflatable dinghies were run down and bent like balloons by protest yachts.

More than 50 demonstrators’ boats fired bright red flares, flew black flags, chanted, and beat drums as the 4600-ton vessel slid slowly to her harbour mooring.

The police put more than 60 boats on the harbour to encircle the Queenfish and keep protesters away. The Queenfish’s escort frigates, the U.S.S. Schofield and the U.S.S. Whipple, had earlier steamed unchallenged through the protest fleet to berth at Princes Wharf.

In Wellington yesterday morning about 50 schoolchildren wrapped in white sheets, symbolising peace and youth, stood or sat in silence with banners round a flowerbed draped in the anti-nuclear symbol near Parliament in protest at the arrival of the submarine.

They were members of a group called School Children Against Nuclear Arms.

“We want to grow up, not blow up,” said Kirsten Wong, aged 16.

The Schofield and the Whipple will leave tomorrow and the submarine will remain in Auckland until March 30.