Norfolk Island Could be an Asset to New Zealand

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26542, 18 August 1947, Page 6

Norfolk Island Could be an Asset to New Zealand

Situated within easy reach of the Dominion—four flying hours from Auckland—is Norfolk Island, with its .sub-tropical climate and hospitable inhabitants. This tiny island has come into prominence recently because of a s-uggestion that the. New Zealand Government take steps to acquire the territory. Norfolk Island played a vital part in the defence of New Zealand during the recent war. Reinforced by a composite battalion to supplement the Australian troops already there, and with the addition of two landing strips (built in under three months by the Australian Civil Construction Corps), this tiny four square mile island would have presented a formidable barrier to Japanese South Pacific aims. The rugged nature of the coast was in itself a natural defence, • and the landing areas and beaches were dominated by light and heavy-calibre artillery. Conservative in their outlook, the islanders were but little concerned with the outside world until war threatened

in the Pacific. Alive to the strategic value of the island to stem the invader’s thrust to the South Pacific, the New Zealand Government in 1942 sent troops to garrison the territory, and the island’s 1000 inhabitants found that almost overnight their tiny island had become a veritable arsenal. The island’s only export for many years has been frozen passion fruit pulp to Australia. Many New Zealand growers cultivated plantations of bananas and orange groves for export to New Zealand until the embargo on the export of these items was brought down by the Australian Government, which administers the territory. The growers were forced to

For the Daily Times by H. W. Tuirvey

leave the island, and their plantations quickly reverted to wildernesses. Passion fruit vines grow wild all over the island, and vie with the noted Norfolk Island pines, guava trees and lantana bushes for pride of place on the island’s, bush-clad slopes. But it is the post-war Norfolk Island towards which attention has been directed. The potential economic asset offering in the island has aroused Auckland interests. The rich volcanic soil stands almost continuous cropping, and the inhabitants-have utilised only sufficient of the island for their own needs, leaving large areas in a natural state. The cultivation of these areas would supplement greatly the Dominion’s imports of tropical fruits, provided the island was taken over by the Government. Although an official denial was recently given by the Prime Minister; Mr Fraser, to reports that the New Zealand Government intended taking steps to acquire the territory, there are many, including the islanders them-

selves, who would welcome a move ir this direction. The islanders considei they have stronger ties with the Dominion than with the- Commonwealth. It remains for the island to be openec up and its commercial and tourisi interests exploited. Already, no doubt, it is returning to its pre-war state—a lantana and pine-covered island, haunl of mutton birds, quail and parakeets, and friendly, sun-tanned people. [The, writer of this article, a member of the North Otago staff of the Daily Times, spent 18 months on Norfolk Island with the armed forces.]