Norfolk Is. Now Important
p. 64 · Read in the full issue
Airways Centre
WHERE once, on Norfolk Island, there was a glorious avenue of pine trees 1J miles long, there now is a row of stumps. But not far away there is a great, all-weathers airfield, used almost daily by large planes which come in from all directions —from Australia, New Zea land, Noumea and Fiji.
The airfield was built very hurriedly in the black days of 1942, when the Japs were threatening Australia and New Zea land. The trees came down to give clearance to the arriving and departing
planes. Residents protested passionately
—the avenue was famous —but a/ large party arrived from Australia and removed the trees before argument had really started.
For three years, NI has had a garrison of Army and Air Force men (all New Zealanders); and it now has good metalled roads and a water supply system (pumped from wells), whfere before it had neither.
Islanders had been planting up passion fruit before the war, to supply the pro cessing plants established by Morris Bennett (in 1928) and Cottees (1938); but when easy Army money came along, they let their plantations go. Now that the Servicemen are gone, or going, they are planting again. Cottees are reported to be preparing the establishment of a fish canning factory. There supplies of good fish available.
With its lovely climate and sylvan charms, plus its fine new airfield, Nor folk Island probably will become a favourite holiday resort for Australians and New Zealanders. It always was han dicapped by lack of a good shipping service—due mostly to the total absence of a sheltered port.