R. And R. ’ Helps Economy

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31623, 8 March 1968, Page 18

R. And R. ’ Helps Economy

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY, March 7. New Zealand’s tourist industry and foreign exchange earnings will get a large boost if the United States Government agrees to add the Dominion to its list of rest and recreation centres for United States troops in Vietnam.

On Sydney’s experience, after only five months as an ‘“R. and R.” centre, almost every section of the community and economy would benefit.

And yet most New Zealanders would not know the “quiet Americans,” as they have been dubbed by Sydneysiders, were in tbe country. A total of 16,700 American servicemen have spent an estimated $3.6m in Sydney on their six-day respites from the war since the scheme began last October.

Jets are arriving daily, bringing them in at the rate of 1100 a week, and they are pouring more than $125,000 weekly into cash registers all over the city.

Sydney has become the second most popular of the 10 approved “R. and R.” centres — after the one nearest to home, Honolulu. Auckland would almost certainly be the New Zealand centre, but final United States approval would be given only after a survey team had satisfied Army and Government authorities that accommodation, entertainment and recreation facilities were adequate. It is believed that pressure on the existing centres is such that if American troop levels in Vietnam are increased, as has been speculated, United States authorities will have to open up a new leave centre. If New Zealand failed to meet American requirements, the new base could be sited at Surfers’ Paradise on the Queensland Gold Coast, which has already been surveyed. In Sydney, American authorities have permanent block bookings at no fewer than 48 hotels and motels, ranging from the international luxury class to smaller establishments. They stipulate that hotels must provide single rooms with private baths and

be clean and reasonably priced. Apart from the money the troops themselves put into the economy through hotels, bus tours, restaurants, night clubs, souvenir shops, taxis and so on, fringe financial advantages to a country with an “R. and R.” base are considerable.

These Include fuel contracts to supply the chartered jets which carry the troops, contracts for buses to take them from the airport to the checkin point and their hotels, contracts for hiring out civilian clothes and dry-cleaning them and other massive support costs.

In Sydney an all-American military staff of about 20 has taken a suite of rooms at a leading hotel for use as its centre of “R. and R.” operations. Australian and American officials agree that the Sydney scheme has proved an unqualified success. Troops who wear “civvies” throughout their stay have been readily accepted by Australians and swamped with offers of hospitality. There have been few brawls, little drunkenness, and no trouble from the antiVietnam faction.

The secret of Sydney’s success as a leave base over other centres such as Hong Kong, Manila, Taipei, Singapore and Bangkok is, according to one United States official: “It’s like home, but it’s not home.”

Price Index Rite.—The food group of the Consumers' Price Index rose nine points, or 0.8 per cent, between January and February, according to figures released today by tbe Government Statistican (M rJ. V. T. Baker). The February index was 1107 (based on 1000 in 1965) compared with 1098 in January.—(P.A.)