Don't Renounce the World For This Island Orange

Away-from-it-all Department: Don't Renounce the World For This Island Orange Grove!

EXCITED by a Melbourne “Herald” story, by Osmar White, about an orange-growing project on Sunday Island in the Kermadecs (just north of NZ); and more particularly by some photographs Of a substantial establishment and an extensive and healthy orange grove (apparently on Sunday To i n Ai f’ „ .

Island), we wrote to the New Zealand Department of Agriculture demanding more of same.

Even if We, ourselves, had no for SUCh a Pacific paradise as described by Mr. White, we know Of plenty Of people (including ex-Servicemen) who have.

Sunday Island seemed ideal. The reported improvements since we were last able to check up on it we put down to the happenings behind the smoke-screen f • vears A . T\/r„ On the Credit Side (according to Mr.

White) were: hot water baths from thermal springs; no mosquitoes sandflies, good climate, fertile soil suitable for oranges (citrus expert hact planted 400 trees whose development had been healthy and rapid) ; ready-made orange market in New Zealand, 600 miles south; New Zealand Government was considering the encouragement of settlers qualicitrus.

On debit side were flies and earthquakes.

IN due course came disillusion. We received the following communication, signed by the Director of the Horticulture Division. Department of Agriculture, Wellington, New Zealand:

In reply to your letter of the 9th instant re *he ? er ™ adec Island * and enclosing {£»« £t grove depicted in the photograph is not taken on Sunday Island, because that island, which is at present under the control of the Public Works Department of this Dominion, is un with the exception of a small party °f Public Works men who look after the island, and who are relieved intermittently by other men from the same Department.

The photograph referred to did not emanate f rom the Department of Agriculture in New Zealand, and it would appear that it has been obtained from the Victorian Department of Agriculture, as it looks more like an Australian scene than a New Zealand one.

As far as the production of oranges or other citrus fruit on the island is concerned, there is no development at the present time, the growth of orange trees being restricted to some dozen or so old trees which have grown from seedlings in the bush, apparently introduced by a previous settler, many years ago.

The prospect of any increase or development citrus-growing in that island is receiving some consideration; but it is entirely a matter for future development, and there is not suf ficient data available at the present time to say whether it might be a success or otherwise.

The half dozen gentlemen of the public Works Department who care for Sunday Island should be warned. If we can beCo me excited over a description of an a n e ged Island paradise, there’s no telling what effect it will have upon the thousands of frustrated Australians who. finding it hard to embrace Peace, harbour a desire to get away from it all into the

blue Pacific.