Industry On

Hope For New Industry On Norfolk Island

A Queensland comp a n 3 Queensland United Foods, is 1 send three of its directors 1 Norfolk Island to examine tt

possibility of establishing a plai

for the snap freezing of fish an

possibly of vegetables.

the directors wei ” to have arrived on December : but the visit was postponed when or of them became ill.

The directors have asked membe] of the Norfolk Island Council to met them during their visit. Their fin has considerable interests in Queen: land as vendors of milk, cream an ice cream.

When details of the company’s ii terest in the island were announce at the December council meeting, was stated that financial assistanc might be given to local boat owner to ensure a steady supply of fish fc the proposed freezing works.

The establishment of a frozen fis industry would be very welcome o the island, as, economically, it ha been hard hit during the past 1 months by: 0 The cessation of operations c the Norfolk Whaling Company owin, to the scarcity of whales. 0 A poor bean crop as a resul of Halo Blight, due to the unusuall; wet, humid summer. 0 The closure of the OTC cabh station following the extension of th.

Commonwealth Pacific Cable Projec from Auckland to Suva.

Norfolk is also to lese the service: of its Agricultural Officer, Mr. Briar Marsh, who will leave for Fiji earh in the New Year to take up anothe:; position.

Some time ago Norfolk’s Council voiced doubts as to whether the island’s economy could afford the luxury of a full-time Agricultural Officer.

It was pointed out that whereas Mr. Marsh’s salary was about £2,000 a year, the yearly income from bean harvests was only £15,000.

However, when councillors were told at the December meeting of his intention to resign, they did not ap-< pear to accept the information with! much rejoicing.