Peanuts

New Crop for Norfolk Island

QNE result of the visit to Australia of Mr. Charles Bennett, well-known grower on Norfolk Island, is that the Island is likely to possess another industry in the near future. Mr. Bennett was sur prised to find in Sydney a factory, employ ing 200 hands, which deals exclusively in peanuts and the by-products of that nut.

He was assured of a market for all the peanuts that can be grown on N.I. This nut has been cultivated with much success and profit in recent years in the Northern Territox-y of Australia.

Hitherto, peanuts have not been grown commercially on Norfolk Island. Mr. Ben nett took back with him by the June Mo rinda some of the best examples of Spanish and Brazil peanuts, which he is confident will,/in the near future, be a source of potential wealth to his fellow-growers on the Island.

“While it is not likely that growers will give up their profitable crops of beans,” he explained, “I think that some portions of N.I. are most suitable for peanut growing, and that the crop should do exceedingly well on the Island.”

Mr, Bennett also interviewed the N.Z.

Trade Commissioner (Mr. W. Taylor) and put forward a strong plea for the exclusion of Norfolk from the present fruit embargo that exists between Australia and New Zealand. “Our fruit is absolutely clean,” he declared, “and there is no reason why it should be restricted in any form. As a result of the restriction some growers are in reduced financial circumstances. In deed, some of the families are actually on the bread line.”

The existing condition of N.I, affairs he contended was due to inefficient and costly administration, and a disregard of their trusteeship by Australian Federal Minis ters. Administration charges, he said, totalled £14,000 annually, while the Island ers submitted that they could run their own affairs for £5,000 and leave a surplus with which to develop the Island.

Mr. Bennett said that Norfolk Island was not part and parcel of the Common wealth, but had been handed over by Downing Street as a trust to the Austra lian Government. The visit of Sir George Pearce had not improved the situation, and some Islanders were urging a change in administration. At present the Officer in Charge of the Administration acted in a dual capacity as prosecutor and judge. The Islanders, who now number 1,000, had no representation in Federal Parliament.

Mr. Frank R. Hewitt, general manager of Lever’s Pacific Plantations Pty. Ltd., left Sydney by the Montoro on June 17 for Samarai, Papua, to visit Giligili Plan tation. Later he joined Lever’s vessel for Gavutu, British Solomon Islands, to in spect the Company’s plantations in the Group. He will return to Australia by the Malaita in September.