Morinda’s Itinerary.

Norfolk Island Wants

Two Markets.

AN urgent plea for the revision of the Burns, Philp timetable, covering Sydney-Norfolk Island-New Heb rides-Auckland has been received from Norfolk Island.

It is pointed out that the “Morinda” now proceeds Sydney-Norfolk Is.-New Hebrides-Norfolk Is.-Auckland-Norfolk Is.-Sydney. It is contended that this is not fair to the Norfolk Is. producers.

They collect their produce and ship it to Auckland. Within five days, the “Morinda” is back again, en route to Sydney. The islanders do not get a chance, in that short time, to collect another good consignment. Then they must wait five weeks before the “Mor inda” sails for Auckland on her next round trip.

But, they say, if the “Morinda” were to run Sydney-Norfolk Is.-Auckland- Norfolk Is.-New Hebrides-Norfolk Is.- Sydney, there would be a longer inter val between the ship’s departure for Auckland and Sydney respectively, and they could arrange their consignments more profitably.

At first glance, this is an eminently reasonable request. But a careful study of the proposed itinerary shows that it would at once open the way for the sale of goods to the New Hebrides by Auckland merchants. And Aus tralia cannot approve of that. Aus tralia subsidises this shipping service very substantially, in the hope that it will open the New Hebrides market to Australian exporters. It is, naturally, not Australia’s policy to subsidise a shipping service for New Zealand’s en terprising merchants.

However, the welfare and encourage ment of Norfolk Is. producers are sub jects of primary consideration; and the “Morinda’af’i itinerary is again under consideration at Canberra.