“IN SORRY PLIGHT.”

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 194, 17 July 1937, Page 9

“IN SORRY PLIGHT.”

SUNDAY ISLAND SETTLERS.

MINISTER’S STATEMENT.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 16. Four of the seven settlers on Sunday Island, in the Kermadec Group, are to be evacuated at their own request by the Government’s motor-ship Maui Pomare, now at the island. 'Hie ship left Wellington a few days ago, taking a small expedition to carry out exploratory work.

A radio message from Mr J. E. Anderson, officer in charge’ of the expedition, was received yesterday by the Government, and in response to an urgent request, the Government has agreed to remove four disillusioned men. Reference was made by Mr Anderson to the possibility of an acute shortage of Food on the island, necessitating the dispatch of a relief ship to rescue the expedition in the event of the settlers remaining. • Reference to recent attempts to promote settlement on Sunday Island were made by the Acting-Minister of External Affairs (Hon. F. Langstone) in an interview to-night. “For some time past,” be said, “there has been a movement to promote settlement- on Sunday Island by a group under the leadership of a Mr Venables, known as the Sunday Island Association. It will lie of public interest to know that on June 14 H.M.S. Achilles called at Sunday Island and with considerable difficulty landed a party for naval purposes. The officer iu charge hardly set foot on the island when serious complaints by the settlers were the order of the day. An urgent request was made by disgruntled settlers to be shipped back to Auckland. This request could not be granted, as the Achilles was bound for the Tongan Islands and other ports of call.

“Mr Anderson, engineer in charge of the'expedition, stated in a message that, if the settlers were not removed from the island, there must be such a demand on the party’s small supply of provisions that a relief ship would have to be sent forward to rescue the expedition. In response to an urgent request, the Government agreed to remove four settlers from their sorry and unenviable plight. I consider this development should he known bv the public, and I trust there will be no further attempts bv misguided persons to settle on this island,” concluded Mr Langstone.