SUNDAY ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20820, 12 March 1931, Page 10

SUNDAY ISLAND.

PROPOSAL FOR SETTLEMENT.

WARNING BY MINISTER. ,[|Y TELEGRAI'H.—-PRESS ASSOCIATION. 1 'WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Minister of Lands, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, in an interview today, stated that he received a'"number of letters asking for information with regard to the scheme of Dr. Ross, of Brisbane, for the settlement of 12 or 14 families on 275 acres of Sunday Island. "The Government," said Mr. Ransom, " has nothing to do with the scheme, nor is it under the aegis of the Government. Dr. Ross has purchased the freehold of 275 acres out of the total area of about 7220 acres, and is, of course, free to develop the property in his own way. But his operations must bo confined to his own area, as no other* part of the island is available for occupation." After describing the conditions on Sunday Island, as revealed by Government reports, Mr. Ransom concluded by saying that the history of former attempts to .settle the island did not make good reading, and intending settlers should take into consideration the rugged nature of the island', its liability to cyclones and earthquakes, and, above all, the means of transport. . ' It must be distinctly understood that the Government was not fostering the scheme, and could not be expected to provide, or assist in providing, a steamer service.