Is Ni For Nz?

Separation From Australia Might Open a New Era

Auckland, June 26

rE Auckland Chamber of Commerce decided to request the Associated Chambers at Wellington to approach the Oovernment concerning the practica bility of negotiations for the transfer of the sovereignty of Norfolk Island from Australia to New Zealand.

This is being urged because of the near ness of Norfolk Island to New Zealand and the island’s strategic and economic value.

The Auckland chamber’s view is that many of the residents of Norfolk Island being former New Zealanders, are gen erally favourable to the transfer of sovereignty - It is stated that there is little likelihood of development of trade unless Norfolk becomes New Zealand territory.

Norfolk could produce large quantities of citrus fruits, tomatoes, passion fruit and potatoes.

EDITORIAL NOTE—Transfer to New Zealand might open a new economic era for NI. Certainly, it could not be worse on.

Nearly everything that can be produced m Australia’s Pacific Islands, which might be sold in Australia’s temperate zones, can be produced in Australia’s tropical zone. Consequently, few Islands products are admitted to Australia.

The exceptions are copra, cocoa coffee, rubber. Large and successful plantations for those things were established in Papua-New Guinea, before the war. But when the war finished, Australia was under the rule of irresponsible Labour politicians and unimaginative bureau crats; and their combined efforts, in the last two years, have nartly destroyed the planting industries of Papua - New Guinea.

Norfolk is a restful, and fertile island, capable of producing every kind of semi tropical fruit and vegetable—a paradise for retired folk. But there literally is no market for Norfolk’s produce. Let an NI orange, or potato or passionfruit enter Sydney port, and NSW orchardists and growers run howling to their “members”, the bureaucrats come into action, and the door is closed.

In over 40 years, Canberra has had only one use for Norfolk and its 1,000 people —its Administratorship is a handy, cushy job into which retiring politicians, to whom the presiding Government feels under some sort of obligation, may be pitchforked.

If it were attached to NZ, only 600 miles away, it could sell, in a good and reliable market, every orange, banana, passionfruit, potato or tomato it couldi produce. New Zealand it seems never can get enough of those products from the Samoan, Cook, Fiji or Tongan Islands.

Norfolk Island, with its soft and kindly climate, would be a fine resort for holi daymakers, if given transport. Australia, in 40 years, has done practically nothing to develop that traffilc. Maybe New Zealand would have more imagination.

A Fijian minister, Setariki Tuilovoni, left by the “Marine Phoenix” last week to attend the International Missionary Council's conference at Toronto on July 9. He will read a paper dealing with the impact of the war on Fiji, and pre ent day conditions in the Colony.