Further Boat Surveys

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31096, 27 June 1966, Page 8

Further Boat Surveys

(Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, June 24. Legislation requiring all fishing boats with a registered length of more than 40 feet to be surveyed annually would be extended over the next few years to boats down to 20 feet, the. Minister of Marine (Mr Scott) said in Parliament.

Mr Scott was giving details of action being taken to minimise fishing-boat casualties such as occurred recently in the Chatham Islands. He was unable to say, how-

ever, whether regulations would be introduced requiring all crewmen in fishing boats to be able to swim.

Replying to Mrs E. Tombleson (Govt.. Gisborne), Mr Scott said that for the last two years the Marine Department had been negotiating with representatives of the fishing industry over the manning and survey of fishing boats. “A scale of officers and crew has also been made requiring fishing boats to be manned with properly certificated personnel depending on the plying limits and size of the boats. Currently the Marine Department is holding refresher courses for fishermen mainly covering aspects of navigation,” Mr Scott said. Mrs E. E. McMillan (Opp., Dunedin North): Has the Minister any regulations in mind concerning the fact that per-

sonnel in boats should be able to swim? Mr Scott: I was not aware that this had a bearing on the recent case. I will make inquiries.