ISLAND PROJECT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 134, 8 June 1937, Page 11

ISLAND PROJECT

REPLY-TO MINISTER

SYNDICATE'S PROPOSALS

(By Telegraph—l'ress Association.)

AUCKLAND, June 7.

Exception. to .advice offered by the Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) .discouraging any persons from investing, in a scheme for the settlement of Sunday Island, was taken by

Mr. A. L. Denniston, Auckland, honorary secretary of the Kermadsc Development Syndicate. He criticised Mr. Langstone for making-a.statement before he had invited full particulars from those responsible for the scheme, and said the Minister's facts were far from correct. . .■';•■ ' • .

"In the first place," said Mr. Denniston, "the sum of £40 is not only for. the purchase of land and a free passage to the island for .every'settler, but there will" also be a very large sum which will be ussd for installing a water supply, "■■ generating electricity, and building a small hospital with all medical stores. A qualified surgical .nurse and dentist are accompanying the settlers, There willbe a small schoolroom, since a retired schoolmaster is to be a settler, a community store, and a wireless outfit capable of sending and receiving. This is quite apart, too,, from the more than probable fact that. Pan American. Airways will be installing a meteorological station on the island.

"If an epidemic broke out, a wireless message to me in Auckland would very soon have.a doctor in. a boat off to treat settlers with all drugs and other necessities. This would not be at the expense of the New .Zealand Government.. Indeed, one distinct.and. often-expressed hope has bsen. that the Government will not unnecessarily interfere with settlers who have sufficient money to carry on-.-without such help. : • ■

"With regard, to communication with the- island, the committee- -in- charge, has tentatively , arranged for a' permanent charter of a large auxiliary schooner which -will ' • make regular trips, and which, by means of. overhead gear, can be loaded and unloaded in all weathers when required.' This disposes of the bugbear connected: with landing facilities.

"The Minister states that presumably the syndicate will arrange for the necessary survey. Is it at all likely that such an important matter should have been overlooked? He heed not have presumed; he could have ascertained' this and other facts by the simple process of making inquiries! For Mr. Langstone's edification, I may state that a licensed, duly qualified, arid registered surveyor will sub-, divide, the block as soon as the committee requires it. .Furthermore, .the. land is already under the Land Transfer Act, which will give, to each settler a New Zealand Government.guaranteed title to ownership.

1 "It may also be of interest to the public to know," said Mr. Denniston,. "that fruits and other- produce can be placed on the New Zealand market in their respective seasons earlier than from any other country supplying New Zealand. In addition, oranges, lemons, grape fruit, passion fruit, paw paws, rock melons, taros, kumeras, hops, and so on, will be in _ supply when;local markets are bare, 'and, as freight will be less than it will be, from islands further away, so will the cost to --the consumer '• be~less. -■ .--. ■

• "It .would be interesting /to know who (gave this unsatisfactory information to the.Minister. I suspect that it came from someone whom we considered would be 'ah unsatisfactory settler, arid I have had a great many such, or from one who knew the island before the days;, when electricity,; machinery, and' up-to-date science were used commercially. '

"I repeat that;the Minister made a grave blunder, when he did not deem it necessary or- worth while to ascertain these and many other facts before making a critical statement which, as it stands, is such a misleading warning." .- ■ • ■ ■ ,