Lack of cash sees Ohakune losing

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 443, 14 July 1992, Page 1

Lack of cash sees Ohakune losing

Ohakune is loosing money because of a lack of hole-in-the-wall cash machines, according to some retailers. Ohakune Tyres & Energy Centre proprietor Warren Swain said last week skiers were spending less than they might want to in the town because they can't get cash after hours. The garage gives out cash through its EFTPOS system, but they have to ration the cash, and sometimes they run out all together. He said if people can't get cash they can't spend it, and many city people now come away on holiday expecting to find money machines available outside normal banking hours. "We're a service station, not a bank," said Mr Swain. He said at times they had people queuing 10-20 deep at the counter wanting cash, which sometimes caused problems dealing with customers who wanted to buy petrol or other goods.

"We don't mind helping them, but we've got to serve our customers first." He said some people have become angry and even abusive if they can't get cash from him. "They don't understand we don't always have the cash to give them," he said. "We get cleaned out of cash daily." He said they limit each customer's withdrawal despite some wanting $200 - $400. "If we give out that much to a couple of people, 20 others miss out." Other retailers who have EFTPOS machines, or who are getting them, say they limit cash withdrawals, and some will only give cash to people making purchases. If they do give out straight cash, it will be after having served customers buying their goods. Ohakune has one automatic teller machine, at Trust Bank, which handles cards from Trust Bank, Taranaki Savings Bank and Auckland Savings Bank. The BNZ, Ohakune's only other bank, has no machine, but they say they are

considering installing one, but not this winter. "We think we should install one," said BNZ branch manager David Cossar. "But we've got to put up a good case to head office." He said the problem was that use of a machine would only be viable in winter. A way to overcome this problem could be to take the machine out in summer and install it at a summer resort, returning it each winter. 'These machines cost over $100,000 and we don't have them lying around waiting for a place to put them," said regional manager Ernie Oxnam. He said it would not be until winter 1993 that a machine could be installed. He said they were still exploring the possibility of installing a machine. In the mean time the BNZ has extended its opening hours, said Mr Cossar, opening until 4.30pm. In the meantime, "it's costing the town money," said Mr Swain.