NORFOLK ISLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, 24 February 1947, Page 4

NORFOLK ISLAND

HOLIDAY RESORT POTENTIALITIES OUTLINED. Wellington, Feb. 23 The probability of Norfolk Island becoming a major holiday resort lor New Zealanders, now that it is within easy reach of New Zealand by air—a matter of a lour-hour trip—is stressed by Mr. K. H. Day, aviation officer of the Vacuum Oil Company, who has just returned from the island. Tne Australian Government, he said yesterday, realised the island’s attractions, and was about to erect a large hotel there to accommodate tourists.

Many New Zealanders, he said, werp already planning to spend holidays on Norfolk. Accommodation on the island was at present scarce, but obtainable, and at the time of his visit there were about 150 holiday-makers from Australia and New Zealand. Many of his business acquaintances in Wellington were already planning a vacation there, attracted by the low fare—less than f2o—offered by the R.N.Z.A.F. transport service, and the low cost of living on the island itself. Three or four guineas a week, he said, would maintain a high living standard. He personally had never enjoyed a holiday so much in his life. The climate was ideal, and the abundant fruit available, as well as the hospitality of the local residents (happy people who paid only nominal income tax between the ages of 21 and 55), made it a delightful experience. Mr. Day said that he knew Norfolk before his recent trip, having visited the island while serving with the R.N.Z.A.F. His stay under civil conditions he found twice as enjoyable, although he had expected to find most of the discomforts he had experlen ,?d there in the past. With the absence of large numters of service personnel, however, there was an all-round improvement. Shark-free Lagoons.

Swimming was possible from two beaches on the island. Both of these were seltered, being inside lagoons, warm, and shark-free. Surf bathing was possible at one point, but it was risky. Besides being a potential holiday resort, Norfolk had a future as an air refuelling point, said Mr Day. It was on the direct route from New Zealand to the Far- East (the reason why the Dakotas serving J Force used it), and it was also useful for aircraft flying between Fiji and New Zealand Even in the case of aircraft having fairly long range, it was useful in this respect, in that when aircraft were required to fly with heavier loads and less fuel, they could do this by refuelling at Norfolk Island instead of making a bigger hop. The islanders themselves, concluded Mr. Day, were most definitely airminded since they had previously been dependent on a bi-monthly steamer which was not alwayse on a regular schedule. He considered it likely th'dt in the event of the R.N.Z.A.F. service being withdrawn, they would press the Australian Government, to institute a service. They also saw possibilities for the air export of their fruit crops, for which there are two seasons a year.