Yachtsmen Charged

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 577, 1 February 1929, Page 13

Yachtsmen Charged

FAILED TO OBTAIN PRATIQUE SEQUEL TO OCEAN TRIP A surprising sequel to an adventurous return trip between Auckland and Norfolk Island on the yacht Victory is being heard this afternoon in the Magistrate's Court. Harold George, Geoffrey George and Cyril Bowman, the yachtsmen, are being charged with a breach of the Health Act in landing at Whangaroa from a vessel liable to quarantine and without obtaining pratique. "Whangaroa was the first port touched at on the return journey, and the defendants contended that they were in need of water. According to the Health Act. no vessel liable to quarantine can be brought to a landing place and no person on board can land unless the health officer at a port has made his inspection. The penalty for a breach is £IOO. Exceptions are recognised only in cases of urgent necessity or of marine casualties. The stipulation in the Customs Act is that, vessels arriving from overseas may call at specified ports only, except in cases of “stress of weather, want of provisions or other necessity.’* On the east coast, Auckland is the most northerly specified port, and, on the west, Kaipara. Mr. H.* George, who is a solicitor, is stating in defence that shortage of water was responsible for the Victory being taken to Whangaroa. It would not have been possible for the vessel to have reached Auckland. The water was foul through tropical growth. The defence contended that the shortage could be classed as “want of provisions’* or “urgent necessity.’’ A doctor examined the yachtsmen at Whangaroa. There was no port doctor