Morinda’s Schedule

Will Auckland be Cut Out?

From Our Own Correspondent

Norfolk Is., Feb. 12.

THERE is yet another alteration in the existing itinerary of the s.s.

Morinda, as it affects Norfolk Island, under consideration.

When her regular runs from Sydney were extended to include a hasty trip over to Auckland on her return here from the New Hebrides, a large traffic in tourists was anticipated, and it was also supposed that she would carry a heavy and profitable shipment of ban anas by every sailing.

But the N.Z. Government has now contracted with the administrations of various tropical islands under their own mandate for regular consignments at regular prices, and the tourist traffic has failed to materialise to any satis factory extent.

This is partly due, no doubt, to the fact that the dominion is also lament ably hit by the world-wide financial crisis, and there are few tourists trav elling overseas for pleasure; but, un doubtedly, it is also a sad outcome of the inability of Messrs. Bums, Philp, Ltd., to see the wisdom of reducing the single fare for a two and a half days’ passage at its cheapest to less than eight guineas. There is a reduc tion of 10 per cent, on the return eight guineas, but this is so infinitesimal as to. partake of the nature of a further affront.

However, be the cause what it may, it appears that the shipping company is steadily losing on each trip to the mournful tune of hundreds of pounds, and not even the most rabid critic of the Islands policies of Messrs. Burns, Philp can expect them to continue long with that.

So something has to be done about it; and a new scheme is already being considered, subject to the approval of the N.I. Administration, the Planters’

Association —which is growing increas ingly in power—and Burns, Philp themselves. They, naturally, will speak the last word.