WHALING INDUSTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3114, 19 November 1913, Page 5

WHALING INDUSTRY.

THE CAMPBELL ISLAND PARTY. INTERVIEW WITH MR NORTON. The Amokura, which arrived at Dunedin on Wednesday from a cruise among the on the sth inst. from a ciulso among the New Zealand, brought with her as a passenger Mr Norton, the head of the Campbell Island whaling party. Mr Norton is a native of Torea Channel, Marlborough Sounds, and lor a number of years was associated with his father and brothers in the whaling industry carried on in and about Cook Strait. After a lime it became evident that the industry was about worked out in those waters, and the younger members of the Norton family cast around with the object of seeking fresh fields. At this time Captain Tucker, of Gisborne, obtained a lease over Campbell Island from the New Zealand Government, and he approached the Nortons on the subject of working this island for him. Being aware that there would be ample scope for the prosecution of the whaling industry in these southern waters, a party from the Torea Channel, or, rather, from Te Awake whaling station, entered into an agreement with Captain 'Tucker to care for the sheep ou the island, and shear and generally do all the work necessary to bo done, on a percentage basis, agreeing on the other hand to share the profits derived from whaling during the winter months with the captain. Accordingly, a party, consisting ol two or three members ol me Norton family, one son of Mr Jackson, of Te Owaite, Charlie, Mr John Hebberley, Mr Timms, and one member of the Thom family, some years ago set out for Campbell island, and at varying periods this company of men has returned to the dominion in groups, leaving some of their number on the island. However, by degrees, several mom bore of the original party have withdrawn, until now the Nortons are the only original members of the party who still have an interest in the island. The principal ol these is Mr Jack Norton, who was interviewed by a reporter last week.

Mr Norton, in reply to a number of questions, said the present party had been on the island for 26 months. \Vhea they went down they entered into an agreement with a Norwegian whaling party to bring them back to the dominion in January and to take them back again at a given time, together With a stock of general requirements tor the carrying on of tlie whaling industry. “However,” said Mr Norton, “It so happened, owing to legislation passed in 191<2, that these Norwegians were compelled to leave New Zealand waters. The Norwegians left for their own country—at least, 1 am given to understand so, —and, as you will readily see, we were left in the luren, being short of detonators and other requisites necessary for the continuation of our whaling operations. The legislation previously mentioned, 1 am of the opinion, was introduced lor the special purpose of protecting a party at Whangamomo from being encroached upon by the Norwegians, who had erected works with a 25 mile radius of Cook’s works at Whangamomo. The abandonment of the Norwegians’ southern operations meant a big loss to us, for, in addition to being rendered unable to carry out our whaling on a proper scale owing to lack of implements, we lost thp value ot the carcases of the whales we did catch, because the Norwegians, owing to being compelled to leave, were not able to carry out their contract to try out the carcases of our whales. We were consequently practically marooned on the island, without getting mails or anything else from New Zealand, and no tidings as to the cause of the Norwegians’ breach of contract. Instead of capturing about 11 vyhales, we only secured one. There were quite a number about, as I have seen as many as 14 lying in Nor-west Bay, but wo were powerless to do anything owing to having no explosives. If it had not been for Messrs Henderson and Co., of Invercargill, who sent down a quantity of stores on the off-chance that we would need thorn, we would have had nothing but mutton to oat. The trouble, however, was that they did not send down the detonators, of which we were very much in need. “ Another grievance we have is that we received no notification that sealing licenses were being issued until after the season was over,” said Mr Norton. “The sealing season would have meant a great difference to us, and we would have been able to make a few pounds over and above what we generally make.' Others had the opportunity, but we, as New Zealanders, and the pioneer w'halers in the south, were absolutely debarred, because our communication with the mainland, through the Norwegians being squeezed out, was cut off Another grievance wo have is the charge made by the Government for the service of the Tutanekai in calling on us. We did not want anything unreasonable, but seeing that the Government sent the Tutanekai down to the Macquaries to assist Hutch’s men, who were stranded there, after tho wreck of the Jessie Nicol, they might have called to see u.s without making a charge, us we, as New Zealanders, should surely be worthy of some consideration. The steamer would have called, it is true, but we would have had to pay £BO for this obligement, and our agent at Invercargill did not consider the expense warranted. Tho New Zealand Government did the trip to the Macquaries for nothing to oblige tho Tasmanian Government, a distance of about 800 miles, but because they would have had to put out of their course a distance of 160 rnilee to see us, they wanted to charge ue enough to pay the cost of tho trip from Wellington to * tho islands. 1 'don’t blame the Government for obliging the Tasmanian Government, but I do object to the heavy levy they wanted to make upon us for the distance they would have travelled to sec us, and I consider it by no means a fair proposition.” Speaking of the island, Mr Norton said that the area was about 40,000 acres, on which there grew coarse native grass, this carrying about 7000 sheep, mostly Corricdales. Last year they clipped 119 bales of wool, and this year ho expected a yield of 127 bales. Mr Norton concluded by a special reference to the commander of tho Amoleura. Captain Hooper, and tho officers and men, all of whom hid treated him very well indeed on the trip from the island. He said that he and his party were deeply indebted to Captain Hooper for the very kind consideration he had given them.