POOR LIVING ON NORFOLK ISLAND

Southland Times, Issue 23742, 14 February 1939, Page 6

POOR LIVING ON NORFOLK ISLAND

SETTLERS LEAVE TO LOOK FOR WORK CHANGE IN CONTROL DESIRED (United Press Association) AUCKLAND, February 13. Unable to secure a reasonable living in spite of all their efforts 27. residents of Norfolk Island arrived today by the South Pacific Line steamer Tasman to search for work in New Zealand. The party included about 15 former New Zealanders and several who had spent their entire lives on the island. A change from Australian to New Zealand control and more frequent shipping services were stated to be essential before the island could hope to flourish.

Through disappointment with the conditions about 100 settlers had left during the past three months and the population had now decreased to less than 900. It was deplorable, said several passengers, that people should be forced to leave such a fertile and productive island through the inability to make a living. “There are no prospects for anyone settling in Norfolk Island unless he has independent means,” said Mr C. W. Jordan, formerly of Te Awamutu, who left the Dominion last October to examine the conditions on the island with a possible view to settlement. “The people have been slaving to get a few shillings from the land but they have been in the habit of getting debit notes back for the produce shipped to Sydney.” Because the island was controlled by Australia, restrictions which applied to the importation of fruit from the Commonwealth to New Zealand also applied to Norfolk Island, Mr Jordan said. The settlers therefore had to send their produce to Sydney which, however, was very well supplied with fruit of mainland origin. As a result prices were generally low. If the island was placed under New Zealand control and a frequent shipping service instituted the islanders believed they could command much better prices in the Dominion.