Japanese Boat

Escapes

Technical Point In New Hebrides

From Our Own Correspondent

Port Vila, Jan. 14.

YASKISUKU KANAYA, the captain of the Japanese vessel “Taian Maru”, who was charged before the Court of First Instance at Vila, New Hebrides, with having entered a closed port with out permission, and with not being in pos session of a health clearance from his last port of call, was sentenced to a fine of 2480 francs, and his vessel to be seized, on the first count, and to a fine of 250 francs on the second count.

He exercised his right to demand the French legal system, however, and ap pealed accordingly to the Joint (Anglo- French) Court. Thus, he escaped the major penalty, on a technicality.

The appeal was heard before Don Man uel Bosch Barrett, the Spanish presi dent of the Joint Court, and the resident French and British Judges. The appel lant was defended by French counsel; and the procedure followed was French, Appellant was acquitted on the first charge, because it was shown that the original summons to the Court of First Instance had been served by a police officer, instead of by a customs officer, as laid down by Condominium Joint Regulations.

The fine of 250 francs, for non-posses sion of a Bill of Health was upheld, as this was considered as an offence against public welfare.

When the New Hebrides police first boarded the “Taian Maru”, at Rentapoa, near Teouma, at the south-west of Efate Island, the captain stated that he carried no papers and that his vessel was owned by a firm in the Philippine Islands.

The “Taian Maru” left Port Vila on December 25.

The escape of the Japanese on a tech nicality, is to be regretted. There are several unauthorised Japanese craft prowling about, engaged mostly in poach ing, and they are difficult to catch. The capture of the “Taian Maru” was the re sult of smart police work.