FORTUNATE ISLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 83, 5 October 1938, Page 8

FORTUNATE ISLES

TAXLESS BERMUDA

VISITOR'S DESCRIPTION

An example of how the tourist industry can be capitalised is Bermuda, the oldest self-governing colony in the British Empire, and the Rev. Victor E. Ford, minister of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Bermuda, states that the islands suffered little during the depression, one of the reasons being that advertising was maintained in magazines and newspapers to attract tourists. •

Mr. Ford, who is on vacation in New Zealand, was born in England. After living in the South Island he left for the United States seventeen years ago. After taking -his theological course in the United States he was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in Canada. He is a minister of the Presbyterian Church that continued after union in Canada. . .

Bermuda, which is 600 miles southeast of New York, contains about 350 islands, but the only inhabited portion is the mainland, which consists of about four islands connected by causeways or bridges. The mainland is only 19 miles long, and narrow, at no point being more than 900 yards from the sea.

The islands, which are sometimes called Somers Islands, after Admiral Somers, have been in the possession of Britain for over 300 years. The population is 30,000 (14,000 whites, 16,000 coloured people), and, after Malta, the colony is the most thickly populatedportion of the British Empire.

Although a certain amount of produce goes to Canada, practically the only industry is the tourist. Every year about 80,000 tourists visit Bermuda, and they arrive by luxury liners and luxury planes from the United States. As many of the tourists are wealthy, the hotels and shops are of a high standard, some of the hotels being among the finest in the western hemisphere. NO NIGHT CLUBS. In many ways, however, Bermuda is conservative, states Mr. Ford. As most of the social amenities are to be found in the hotels, there are no night, clubs and there was strong opposition to a proposal to establish a casino. Diving for coins and begging are prohibited. The only gambling is on the racecourse and in football pools. Even. the observance of Sunday is largely traditionaL If a cruise ship comes into port some of the restaurants are opened and shops for selling souvenirs, but some of the shopkeepers have preferred not to take advantage of this. The total revenue comes from Customs duty and a Government tax of 12s 6d on the tickets of passengers leaving I the country. Some goods are admitted free of duty. There are no Government taxes, but what are the equivalent of municipal and county rates, although these are not high. _ Land_ is getting scarce, and no American citizen can buy land, except under the authority of an Order in Council. Not much American "capital is invested in the islands. Practically all denominations are represented on the islands. The Church of England, with about 17,000 members, is the strongest, although among the coloured population the African Methodist Episcopal Church gains the most support. The Church of Scotland in Bermuda is the oldest Presbyterian Church in the British colonies^, being about 260 years old. Mr. Ford's church will celebrate its centenary, in 1941. NO POVERTY. Most of the white people at Bermuda are in comfortable circumstances, and the coloured people are not impoverished. Intermarriage is frowned on by both races. The climate, states Mr. Ford, is ideal. In the warmest summer the temperature touches 93 degrees and in winter it does not go below 55 or 56 degrees. Bermuda is governed by a House^ oi Representatives and a Legislative Council, as is New Zealand,. A Gover-nor-General is appointed from Great Britain. '