PATROL OF NORTH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 49, 26 January 1938, Page 2

PATROL OF NORTH.

NEW COASTGUARD LIKELY. DARWIN, Jan. 13. It is reported here that the Commonwealth Government is contemplating the formation of an Australian coastguard service, which will absorb the existing patrol conducted by the Northern Territory Administration. The new service, it is believed, will be concentrated round the Northern Australian littoral from Townsville to Broome, and will comprise the patrol boat Larrakia, the Customs launch Vigilant, which is now being built, and the Administration’s new launch, which is also nearing completion. When tlie patrol service was first instituted, the Larrakia could do little more than warn strange vessels off the coast, and it was not until the Aboriginals Ordinance Amendment was enforced that the patrol was empowered to arrest and confiscate vessels which trespassed in Australian waters off aboriginal reserves. Because of the likelihood of “incidents” occurring in future, when Japanese luggers are arrested, it is understood that the Government has decided to incorporate the patrol services under one department which will control the service direct!v from Canberra, instead of through the Northern Territory Administration, as at present. The powers and duties of the patrol will probably be embodied in a special Act.

Additional credibility is given to the report by a statement of the Administrator, Mr Abbott, recently, when discussing- the determination to institute a continuous patrol of the Arnhem Land coast during the next pearling; season. The new patrol boat, he said, would be based at Elcho Island, and would probably be seen more frequently at Thursday Island, which is under Queensland jurisdiction, than it would be at Danvin.