“Missing Overseas Income”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31261, 6 January 1967, Page 3

“Missing Overseas Income”

(N.Z. Press Association) WRAMGNRFA, January 5. New Zealand is missing a big source of overseas income because its harbours lack the facilities necessary for some of the more wealthy overseas yachtsmen to refit their yachts. This is the opinion of Mr Roger Fransom, the American owner-skipper of a 64ft ketch, La Belle Sole, which arrived in New Zealand on Labour Day and came to Whangarei on Tuesday for a short visit. Mr Framson estimated that from the time of his arrival until he leaves late in March, he will have spent £3OOO in New Zealand.

chor out unless he swung to a buoy which was a long way off shore. Nor was there any room in any of the yacht anchorages. Finally, he was allowed to moor at Marsden Wharf. To plug .in shore electricity, Mr Fransom had to pay £1 6s a day. There were no litter bins or garbage containers on the wharves. Payment of £1 a time would ensure a visit from the garbage boat; the alternative was to take the garbage to shore in a dinghy. Getting water was a major task and required a harbour board employee to put in a hose and meter, fill the tanks and record the amount of water taken aboard. Nowhere were there toilets or showers for the mixed crew.

Mr Fransom said that items visitors wanted were electric power at a reasonable rate; fresh water easily available; moorings for boats in the 60ft and 70ft class, preferably beside a jetty; toilets and shower facilities nearby for both men and women; garbage tins nearby; and a restaurant within easy distance of the mooring positions. For these things, 90 per cent of visiting yachtsmen

Plenty of other American yachtsmen would plan to stop in New Zealand for major refits, and spend similar amounts, if New Zealand harbours could provide facilities, he said. In Auckland he found that moorings were hard to get. He. was not allowed to an-

would be prepared to pay cruising the world, reasonable charges. Asked why American Mrs Fransom said that most yachts should come for major harbour authorities in New refits, Mr Fransom said that Zealand appeared to over- the charges for major work look the large numbers of were much lower in New Zeawomen and children now land.'