Away From Norfolk Island

[?]rist Bureau Chairman Hits Out

Dministration Policy Driving People

L Norfolk Island’s Administration has succeeded, in the last four lars, in reducing the permanent population from 1,176 to 800; and urists from 1,467 per annum to 703.

IS statement was made by Mr. f. J. Needham, Chairman of the Norfolk Island Tourist Bureau, report presented recently for rear 1955-56. said that the Administration nued to pour money into pro that become financial liabilities, ad no immediate value. The st industry, on the other hand, a proven source of income to [sland and on this tourist in y depended the Island’s chief is of communication with the le world —air services. 5 measure of the Administra interest in Norfolk’s most industry was that its official sentative attended only five ! last 20 meetings of the Bureau. ; Administration’s contribution ireau revenue, up until the end 15, was £lO4 per annum, a sum had not been increased for irs. In January, 1956, when it

appeared certain that the Bureau could not carry on further with existing sources of revenue, a special meeting of Bureau members asked that the grant be raised to £5OO per annum.

The Bureau made six other re quests—all relating to work to be done to make the Island more at tractive to tourists.

The Administrator of NI said that he was unable to give answers to the requests but that he would pass them on to the Department of Territories in Canberra. In spite of numerous requests for a reply, noth ing was heard about any of the matters raised until a letter was sent direct to the Minister in October, 1956. As a result of this, the grant had been increased to £400; but nothing was done about the other requests.

The NZNAC air service between Norfolk Island and New Zealand

terminated in September, 1955, be cause of landing fees introduced at Norfolk by the Australian Govern ment, and at Auckland by the NZ Government; the reduction of the permissable landing and take-off weights for DCS aircraft by the Australian Department of Civil Aviation, and the cost of installing required additional radio-equipment in NAC aircraft.

Qantas began to operate a ser vice from Sydney through Norfolk Island to New Zealand with Sky rnaster aircraft in November, 1955.

The Bureau is a voluntary organ isation which obtains accommoda tion for visitors, arranges and con ducts local tours, endeavours to im prove tourist facilities, and, to the limit of its resources, provides in formation about the island to over seas travel agencies, etc.

Mr. Needham said that for the past two years, expenditure by the Bureau had greatly exceeded revenue and if it had not been for the increased grant the Bureau would have had to cease operations entirely. He said the next year’s grant was as yet an unknown quantity.

He said, in conclusion, that the Bureau receives assurances from the Minister and the Administrator that plans and recommendations are be ing “considered” but the considera tion fails to materialise into action.