NORFOLK ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1930, Page 14

NORFOLK ISLAND

MAUI PO3IARE WITHDRAWAL

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, 22nd May.

Norfolk Island's regret at the loss of the shipping service connecting it with Auckland was expressed in a letter received by the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce this morning.

Norfolk's trade would revert quickly to Australia, .the letter stated, and the settlers deplored this fact in view of the efforts Auckland-merchants had made; to, build iip a tra^de witH New Zealand during, the past three years. Also,, those who had established their homes in the hope of the Maui Pomare's !service being .developed were now deprived of direct communication with friends and relatives in the Dominion. The; Gqvernmeut's action has been too drastic, it.>'as submitted. In view of the. probability that a private, service would not yield a profit the settlers suggested that consideration should be given to the question of running alternate trips to Norfolk and Noumea, via Caledonia. ■ ■ .

Mr. M. Stewart, president of the chamber, said the Hon. J. B. Donald, Minister of Industries and Commerce, had given the chamber no encouragement to hope for a Government subsidy, to a privatelyowned service. It was hopeless to approach the Government again with that request, and 'it must be recognised that the Maui.'Pomare was fully. occupied in her present itinerary to other parts of the South Pacific. ■' • .■ ■ ■ ■ • ■ ,

A suggestion that a small subsidy should be sought was made by a'member, but the chamber took no action.