Both indignation and amusement exploits of the Larrakia, the patrol boat commissioned by the Government to police the coast and pearling Brounds "of North Australia, The Larrakia was built in England, and has had a rather unfortunate career. When first taken to Darwin it sank in the harbour, and since then its engines have repeatedly broken down, With the introduction of the amended Aboriginal Ordinance, the single patrol boat was confronted with the impossible task of supervising hundreds of miles of coast. The naval sloop Moresby was sent north assist, but when the Moresby was obliged to speed to the assistance of victims of the volcanic eruption at Rabaul, the Japanese pearling fleets seized the opportunity to trespass in coastal waters, where the Larrakia found them, The Larrakia Informed the author!- ties at Darwin by radio that ft had seized the mother-ship of the fleet, eturni Then became anxious,, but, as Government planes were available, they" were obliged to enlist the services of Dr, Fenton, well known throughout Australia as the "fying doctor."
Dr. Fenton, flying the small plane recently supplied him by the Government, eventually Iocated the Larrakia, He reported that he had seen 70 iuggers engaged in poaching, activities, and that the Larrakia was being towed by a lugger and escorted by a large mother-ship, On a subsequent flight he found the curious convoy at Goulburn Island, where he Jearned that the engines had again failed, and that the batteries had given out. New batteries were flown to the lunch by Dr. Fenton, and with radio communication restored, the lugger proceeded to tow the Larrakia to Darwin.
According to offeial reports the Larrakia had stopped the largest of the mother-ships, but finding that Its excessive draught would have involved a longer voyage by the deep fea route had released it. 'The second mother-ship taken to Darwin Was subsequently' released, because of some doubt as to whether it had actually been apprehended territorial waters, so that all the Larrakia had to show for a week of hectic excitement was one lugger, Which had rendered useful service in. towing the petro! boat home.
Caustic comment in the Press and Parliament appears to have. finally roused the Government to a sense of responsibilities, and, before leaving on a hurried visit to Darwin to Investigate the matter, the Minister for the Interior, Mr. Paterson, stated that the Government would take whatever steps may be necessary to ensure that the Ordinance is enforced, Another small launch has been commissioned to assist the Larrakia, Two larger and more suitable patrols boats are being built, in Australian yards this time, and two more will be added to the fleet as soon as posible. It also. seems certain" that Aying-boats will algo be stationed at Darwin to supplement. the patrols, and bases may be established along the coast,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.