Norfolk Island To-day

Low Cost of Living and No Taxes

MR. F. W. HAIG, Australian aviation manager of the Vacuum Oil Co. Pty.

Ltd., has recently visited New Zea land, Norfolk Island and Fiji, in connec tion with aviation supply matters.

He spent an interesting week at Nor folk Island, where he stayed with Mr. A.

N. Martin, a well-known Island identity, and jeeped over most of the 85 miles of fairly good roads. Mr. Haig reports that Norfolk Island now has a population of approximately 800, and is recovering from the effects of the lean war years. The chief industries at present are dairy farm ing, growing of French beans for seed which is exported to Australia, or the pulping of passionfruit. also for export.

Apart from the weekly plane service from New Zealand, Burns Philips’ “Mor inda” calls every four weeks from Sydney.

There are three or four swimming beaches and the scenery on the island is diverse and beautiful. There are large quantities of tropical fruits —passion fruit, paw paw, oranges, grapes, bananas and grape fruit, the latter growing to a great size, some trees being twenty feet high and fifty feet around the branches. These (unfortunately) are not exported—even to New Zealand, which is in need of them.

Visitors find great pleasure in walking, or riding, through the beautiful flower filled lanes. Fishing, tennis and golf are available, and weekly pictures in a fine hall which is also used for dancing and general entertainment.

There are no pests on the Island, and few mosquitoes and flies. Rain seems to occur mostly at night, and the climate is pleasant, with a fertile soil that grows almost anything.

Wages are low, as is the cost of living, and there is no general taxation; practic ally the only taxes are on gasoline, lubri cating oil and kerosene, these being taxed at 3d per gallon. However, each property owner, if under 55 years of age, is re quired to perform up to nine days’ work on the roads, or pay to the Government 9/- per day in lieu thereof.

The Administrator, Mr. Alex Wilson, is an ex-politician, but he appears to be popular and have the respect of the Islanders. His appointment was made from Canberra and is for seven years.

There are no hotels on the Island, and liquor is sold through the Government Bond Store and rationed in accordance with the size of the family or the length of stay of the visitor.

The Australian Government has started an experimental farm which is doing good work in demonstrating the growing of let tuce, cabbages and tomatoes, etc., and quite a measure of success has been at tained.

The chief drawback to the Island is lack of accommodation, although there are about ten families resident there who cater for gufests, and it is proposed to build one or two guesthouses.

Air transport has meant a great deal to Norfolk Island. The RNZAF operate Dakotas between Auckland and the Island, these are well patronised but a disadvan tage is the lack of a definite schedule of arrival and departure of aircraft.

Mr. Haig thinks that the Island should develop into a well patronised tourist and health resort when trans port and accommodation has improved, but he warns visitors to bear in mind that Islanders do not like being referred to as “natives,” and that apparently they do not relish any further settle ment by Australian mainlanders.