PROTEST AT SHUT BARS ON SHIP

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30677, 17 February 1965, Page 1

PROTEST AT SHUT BARS ON SHIP

(From Our Own Reporter) TIMARU, February 16. The 223 Australian and New Zealand passengers on the Japanese cruise ship, Oriental Queen, have protested to the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) over the closing of the ship’s bars by the Customs at Wellington.

The passengers have protested because duty has to be paid on all goods and liquor purchased on the ship and because overseas vessels are allowed to keep their bars open in Auckland.

They have petitioned the Minister, asking for liberal shopping and drinking facilities to be available on the ship while it is in New Zealand waters. The present policy, the petition says, is detrimental to the growth and encouragement of the tourist trade to New Zealand. The petition, sent this morning, requests most urgent action on the following: That the ship’s shops be opened for the purchase of normal daily toiletries, photographic films, sea-sickness tablets and other requirements. That during the times the ship is away from ports of call the passengers be free to purchase duty-free goods. That if permission to land these purchases duty-free

in New Zealand be granted, the conditions be identical to regulations which apply to incoming passengers by air and other passenger vessels. Shore Prices “All liquor, cigarettes, and tobacco purchased aboard under the present conditions are at shore prices,” the petition says. “The ship is responsible for payment of duty to the New Zealand Customs. “We feel that being able to make similar purchases at the ship’s shop at shore prices would only be reasonable if we cannot purchase duty-free. “We feel, also, that it is a serious imposition on Australian round-trip passengers, as well as local cruise people, for the Customs to shut down all bars in port. Duty is paid on liquor and cigarettes sold on the New Zealand coast. “At Auckland, overseas vessels keep their bars open in port. We would like to know just why the Wellington head office Customs closed the Oriental Queen’s bars at Wellington where endeavours are being made to attract more overseas ships to serve the people in this area and use the new overseas passenger terminal,” the petition said. Obstacles Alleged The Minister in charge of Tourist and Health Resorts (Mr Eyre) was doing everything possible to attract tourists to New Zealand, while the Minister of Customs was doing his best to drive them away, said Mr G. L. Barker, a passenger on the Oriental Queen. Mr Barker is a member of

the Wellington Harbour Board, and president of the Travel Agents’ Association of New Zealand. Mr Barker said efforts were being made to increase the tourist trade. The people of New Zealand took £l9m in overseas exchange to see the rest of the world, and we took about £9m from tourists, representing an adverse balance of £lom a year. “Part of the reason is officialdom and red tape by New Zealand authorities,” he said. Another reason was the disharmony between the Ministers of Customs and Tourism. He said the Oriental Queen, the first cruise ship to visit Timaru, arrived, at Wellington with through passengers from Australia. “Immediately she berthed, the Customs sealed the bars, which were not to be opened until the ship sailed. “Why was that done in Wellington, whereas vessels arriving at Auckland are permitted to leave their bars open?” he said. Trend To Cruises Mr Barker said, between New Zealand and Australia, more than 90 per cent of tourist traffic was carried by air.

In 1955, air traffic equalled that of sea and, in nine years, air traffic had so outstripped sea traffic that shipping companies. looking for revenue, were embarking on cruises. “Between January and June of this year, 8.0.A.C. alone will carry 22,000 immigrants from England to Australia, which is equivalent to 44 P. and O. ships with 500 immigrants each trip,” said Mr Barker.

He said the present situation was such that the action of the Customs left a complete “loophole,” and was an open invitation to “crooks’” of all countries to “cash in on the deal.”