SERVICE WANTED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 190, 14 August 1939, Page 9

SERVICE WANTED.

NORFOLK ISLAND.

CONTACT WITH DOMINION.

LACK MEANT STAGNATION.

Stating that the lack of a regular two-way steamer service was resulting in economic stagnation for Norfolk Island, Mr, H. Christian, who arrived by the Maetsuycker yesterday, declared that the administration of the island would pot relax its efforts to secure the resumption of the service which was discontinued when Xew Zealand placed an embargo on Australian fruit.

The present Administrator, Sir ( hailes Rosenthal, he added, would be visiting the Dominion for the Centennial celebrations, and he would do liis best in that direction while in the Dominion. I lie -Maetsuycker and other ships of the South I'acilic line could not provide the service wanted by the islanders. They could only call at Norfolk on the way to Xew Zealand, and were not able to do so on the return to the Dutch East Indies. As it was the island had to guarantee £100 in freight or passengers before the ships of the line would call.

New Zealand was the main market of the island. .Mr. Christian said. It was not much use shipping oranges to Australia, because the . Commonwealth already grew enough for its own consumption. It had been shown in the past that a two-way steamer service with the Dominion opened a good market for Norfolk's produce. On the other hand, it was felt that such a service would provide another tourist resort for New Zealand.

There were still about 1000 people on the island, and economically they considered themselves as an integral part of the Dominion, not of Australia, from which they were administered.

Mr. Christian is a descendant of the mutineers of the Bounty, who 6ettled on I'itcairn Island.