Australian Or New

Zealand?

Future of Norfolk Island

THERE is a feeling among many Nor folk Islanders that the island would be better off as a dependency of New Zealand than under the care of Aus tralia. (said a correspondent in a letter recently to the “New Zealand Herald”).

“Norfolk Island’s greatest form of po tential wealth lies in its oranges and bananas, but there are many difficulties in the way of their export,” adds the writer. “Australia does not want them, fearing their competition with the Queensland products through lower labour costs. On the other hand, the island is faced with the inverse position in the case of New Zealand. The Norfolk growers cannot compete with the lower costs of produce from the Cook Islands, an area which is included within the ex tended boundaries of the Dominion. The barrier to the New Zealand market in volves much more than this, however, going back in the first instance to a dis pute between New Zealand and Australia over primary produce.

Banana Growers’ Difficulties ALTHOUGH Norfolk bananas are al lowed into New Zealand if accom panied by a certificate showing that they are free of disease, they may be im ported only through the Internal Marketing Division or by private firms, subject to New Zealand customs import licences,” the writer continues. “The islanders argue that the Internal Market ing Division prices are not sufficient to pay them to handle the bananas, while the customs import licences, it is felt, are

an automatic prohibition. The preference given Cook Island bananas, as a New Zealand dependency product, constitutes another barrier.

“Many Norfolk Islanders, for this and other reasons, regard with regret the de cision of the Colonial Office against New Zealand’s claim in 1896 to control the island.

“The pro-New Zealand element among the islanders claim that if Norfolk were under New Zealand administration they would be better off in many ways. The island is much nearer to New Zealand than to Australia, and Auckland mer chants are more interested in trading there than are their Sydney counterparts.

New Zealand shipping firms display far more interest than Australian ones in trade with the island. Also, New Zea land maintains a regular passenger and cargo air service with the island.

White Elephant to Australia A PROPOSAL to establish fishing on a large commercial basis ended when one vessel from Australia went ashore,” says the writer. “A trawler, which was expected to be sent from Aus

tralia, did not arrive. However, a com pany formed from “New Zealand and local capital proposes to commence whaling this year. This is an industry which was once firmly established at Nor folk.

“It is contended that Norfolk Island has been little more than a white ele phant to Australia for many years past and that a community of interest seems to lie with New Zealand. What is only a drag to Australia would be an asset to New Zealand, it is stated.

“Major territorial changes are taking place peacefully not only within the Em pire, but elsewhere. For this reason the question is asked: Would it not be pos sible for two independent countries of the Commonwealth to arrange the trans fer of an island, when that transfer would be to the advantage of all con cerned.”

Madame le Carrour, aged 101, who is now living in Nice, has thoughts of re turning to New Caledonia where her three surviving sons are established, two at Bouloupari and one at Poys.