Tankers Are Coasters

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30471, 19 June 1964, Page 3

Tankers Are Coasters

(N.Z., Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 18.

Masters and crews of tankers now carrying products from the Marsden Point oil refinery to other New Zealand ports have come in for a big shock.

Their ships have been classified as coasters by the Customs Department, their bonds sealed off and duty must be paid on all stores, according to local reports. This not only includes items such as spirits and tobacco but those in daily use from tea to toilet paper. Oil companies were informed of this contemplated action by the customs. But one company omitted to inform the maste- of a ship When he found out what was to happen, he became very irate.

A senior officer of the department said today that ships engaged normally in the coastal trade were not entitled

to any duty-free issues and stores and there would be no differentiation in the tankers. “It has, however, imposed extra administrative work where a ship normally plying overseas converts to' the coastal trade for a few months and then at her last port of call reconverts to overseas,” he said.

“We have given instructions to all collectors at New Zealand ports. The ships are not to be given any greater advantage than that given to coasters.

“There will be considerable difficulties for everybody when ships have a large quantity of stores to be kept under seal.

“While a ship is discharging her first cargo from overseas she will have overseas conditions but from the moment when she picks up a cargo at the refinery she will be treated as a coastal vessel,” he said.

Museum Television Series. —The first of the Canterbury Museum television series recently shown on the Wellington channel had been enthusiastically received by many people, reported Mr J G. Penniket, entomologist, to yesterday’s meeting of the Canterbury Museum Trust Board. It was also mentioned that 10 letters had been received from viewers in the Auckland province expressing pleasure at the new programme.