Au revoir, Norfolk Island
p. 76 · Read in the full issue
Copra Growers' Union
Of Fiji
ALL Copra Growers are urged to join this Union and form branches in all centres in the South Pacific. Planters! “Unity is Strength” —so guard your own interests.
The objects of the Union are:— (1) To unite all Copra Growers; to urge them to express their ideas; and to have one concerted and strong medium through which to express their viewpoint in matters of price, markets, etc. (2) To investigate all matters of in terest in relation to by-products, offsets for hurricanes, etc. (3) To encourage research in regard to new uses for coconuts and associated products. (4) To inform Copra Growers of matters affecting their interests; to invite opinions, articles, ex periences, etc., from growers, for the information of other growers.
C. G. O. Parr.
Savu Savu, Fiji.
Au revoir, Norfolk Island
By Alice Allen Innes
1 CANNOT imagine anyone wanting to leave Norfolk. It is an island from which one departs hoping only to return. But the New Zealand plane waits, and we must go.
It is still hard to believe that trade is in such a comatose state here, at the present time, where the natural resources are so great and when there is a demand in both Australia and New Zealand for many of the island’s products.
I am told that 20 years ago there was a big effort made to establish trade be tween New Zealand and the island and that Northern Steamships Co., of Auck land tried to keep the “Hinemoa” on the run. The wealth of tropical fruit from Norfolk and the return trade seemed to offer great possibilities. This venture was unsuccessful, however. Then the is landers built the auxiliary schooner “Resolution” but it proved unsuitable.
The present disputes between the Aus tralian Government (over potatoes) and the New Zealand Government (concern ing oranges) seem to keep this place in the economic doldrums.
I believe at one time the fishing in dustry apneared promising. A Mr. Cottee of Australian passionfruit fame, having established the pulping of that fruit suc cessfully upon Norfolk, then turned his attention to local fishing, and three fine boats were brought here. They all came to grief. One was wrecked near the anchorage, one was burned and. when we were picnicing at Emily Bay during the Christmas holidays, we saw the last of them sinking at its moorings. One of our narty was instrumental in saving the boat* from becoming a total wreck.
Passionfruit pulping is well under way, although lack of labour is a problem. One small lad told me that he had made £4 in a few days picking the fruit, which
seems to run wild everywhere, even hang ing like green and purple globes along some of the roadways.
Two rarer varieties of the fruit, lemon water and bell-apple, both yellow skinned and good keeping, should have a demand in Australia as a novelty fruit.
The bean-seed crops have proved very prolific and successful this year.
Guavas are prolific and no great amount of imagination is necessary to see a great preserving industry here. Norfolk Island guava jelly is something to re member. There are also asparagus flats, and the foothills, where bananas flourish.
Norfolk has so much, and all so dif ferent from most Pacific islands. Clima tically, it has a Tasmanian summer all the year round. An English landscape, plus the stately pines, and the most friendly and charming people in the world. Never is there a passerby who does not give you a cheery greeting.