NORFOLK ISLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23886, 14 August 1939, Page 9

NORFOLK ISLAND

TRADE WITH NEW ZEALAND COMMUNICATION BY STEAMER TWO-WAY SERVICE DESIRED (Per United Press Association) AUCKLAND. Aug. 12. The urgent desire of Norfolk Islanders to have a regular two-way steamer connection with New Zealand was expressed by the members of a party of 12 islanders who arrived at Auckland by the Maetsuycker. Some of the party are on holiday, and others intend to live in New Zealand, saying that lack of twoway services with the Dominion was resulting in economic stagnation for the island. Administrator to Act Mr H. Christian, a descendant of the mutineers of the Bounty, who settled on Pitcairn Island, said that the Norfolk Island administration was not relaxing its efforts to obtain a resumption of the service, which was disconwhen New Zealand placed an present administrator (Major-general embargo on Australian fruit. The Sir Charles Rosenthal) would be visiting New Zealand for the Centennial celebrations, joining the Australian contingent of returned soldiers, and it was his intention to see what he could qq towards re-establishing the necessary service. The Maetsuycker and other ships of the South Pacific Line could not provide the two-way service wanted by the islanders. They could call only at Norfolk IsTand on the way to New Zealand, and were not able to do so on the return passage to the Netherlands East Indies. As it was. the islanders had to guai'antee £IOO in freight or passengers before ships of the line could call. A Potential Market New Zealand was looked to by the islanders as their main hone for prosperity. Little could be gained by shipping oranges to Australia, for the Commonwealth already grew its requirements, but it had been shown in the oast that a two-way steamer service with New Zealand opened a good market for the islands produce. In addition. Mr Christian said, it was felt by the Norfolk Islanders that a resumption of the service would provide New Zealanders' with an attractive tourist resort. Norfolk Island was less than 40 hours' steaming from Auckland, and its climate and beauty were such that islanders believed that a popular tourist service could be opened up. As it was, a one-way service and the closing of the New Zealand market meant onlv one thing for the Norfolk Islanders. They left, and most of them did not come back. Shipment of Oranges There were still about 1000 people on the island, and. economically, they consider themselves an integral part, not of the Commonwealth, by which thev were administered, but of New Zealand. Mr Christian said that 600 cases of oranges were ready for shipment by the Maetsuycker when it called at Cascade Bay. but. unfortunately, the weather on Friday was such that, on the exposed anchorage onlv 300 cases could be shipped. These were consigned to the Internal Marketing Department, and for the first time had been packed and graded under Government supervision.