Reply from N.I.

Not Held Up!

[To the Editor.] Sir, —The attention of this Chamber has been drawn to a “special” article writ ten by Lt.-Colonel T. Orde Lees, ap pearing in the January number of your paper under the heading “Held Up!”; and as the article has evidently been written and published hastily and with out any enquiry as to the facts of the case, I am directed to state the facts, as ascertained by the President of this Chamber from the Administration, Shipping Agents and Boating Company concerned, for the information of your readers.

All vessels trading with Norfolk Is land are anchored in an open road stead and passengers and cargo are carried between the vessels and the landing jetties in whale boats manned by the Norfolk Island Boating Com pany. The Boating Company consists of a number of competent Island boat men who have had many years’ experi ence in handling the boats under con ditions which are at times very dan gerous, and to whose credit it may be recorded that there has never been a casualty in the course of transit.

Immediately upon arrival of the “Morinda,” the ship’s launch and such boats as are required to supplement those of the boating company are handed over to and manned by mem bers of the boating company.

The boating company charges pas sengers arriving at Norfolk Island the sum of 2/- for fare and carriage of per sonal luggage, while “through” pas sengers are charged a return fare of 2/-.

Mr. Victor Edwards, referred to in the article, is the secretary of the Nor folk Island Boating Co., and is author ised by the Company to collect the fares on the jetty from all passengers arriving or departing. The launch and boat in use on the trip mentioned by your contributor were manned by the boating company on the occasion re ferred to, and the payment made was for the services of the company in bring ing the passengers safely ashore and taking them back to the “Morinda.”

I am, etc.,

W. H. Tustin.

N.J. 9/3/32. Secretary.

Norfolk Is. Chamber of Commerce.