Island Over

Concern On Norfo[?] Island Over Tuna Plan

The possibility that Japs

tuna boats might supply a

canning enterprise on Norfol

land brought an angry rea* on the island in May. Som landers made it clear that wanted nothing to do

Japanese.

ITOWEVER, a spokesman fo company planning a tuna ii at Norfolk said in Sydney tha critics had “gone off half-cocked cause they did not have any acc knowledge of the plans.

The company is Empress Aus Ltd. The spokesman referred ticularly to letters in Norfolk I the island’s roneoed newspaper, In one ox these letters, Mr.

Bathie, a member of the 1 Council, said if it was correct Japanese fishing boats were to si a tuna cannery on Norfolk he \ “strongly support an all-out effo. ing made to keep the thin ed| this wedge out beyond the ba< ‘No Trouble where it belongs’.

Another islander, Mr. Roy C a former Australian service wrote: “The same people whc offering us this great opportunifl year-round employment at a cannery) gave us all-year em ment on the Burma Road, plui comforts of the Changi prison.’ 1 After the letters of Messrs. E and Cullen were published,, Norfolk Island Council held a ing at which the AdministJ Major-General R. H. Wordsv, and Mr. J. Baton spoke of understanding of the intention Empress Australia Ltd.

The council then carried the lowing motion: “That the Co desires to make it clear that it not approve of any compart Norfolk Island purchasing fish, than tuna, except from locally-o: fishing boats.”

Mr. Bathie voted against motion after stating that the Co should not discuss the matter it was more aware of the inten of Empress Australia Ltd.

Certainly many Norfolk Islax feel that the presence of Jape tuna fleets in the area would J the excellent local fishing.