FOOL'S PARADISE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 171, 6 August 1937, Page 4

FOOL'S PARADISE

-Preaa ABSoHationJ

The Lure of Sunday Island EFFORTS DISCOURAGED

TnleeraDh-

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The retum to New Zealand by theMaui Pomare of refugee settlers from Sunday Tsland. and stat8m©nts mad® by the men were referred to to-day by the Aeting Minister of External Affairs, the Hon. F. Langstone, after ha had had a conference with them"The information supplied by the settlers," said the Minister, ' ' confirms in no uncertain manner my impression that any attempt to settle the island is raerely a process of collecting money from the few who will always be found to respond to the allurements of an island home in the Pacific. There may be such island homes, but they are not to be found at Sunday Island. I sincerely hope we have heard the last of these ineffeetive efforts to settle a small area „ of freehold land on this island. "The testimony of the returned settlers, who are sadder but wiser men, gives ample evidence of that. Fot» lowing the arrival of the men at Lyt* telton, a statement appeared in the pxess to the effect that they had been directed not to make any public disdosures until they had discussed matters with the Government. The men deny' making such a statement, and I* can find no evidence of any Goverxunent cflxcial giving such a direction. The Government was In no way connect* ed with their settlement on the island4 In my opinion those who, for their ewn pecuniary benefit, send young settlers (one of them is only 19 years of age) to this isolated island are deservxng of public cenBure. "The evidence produced by the Bettiers leaves no doubt as to the identity of the person responsible, notwithstanding the fact that that person wrote to me, denying any responsibility and asking me to wxthdraw my allega* cions. My response to his request waa to iuvite him to publish a diselaimer, but no such diselaimer appeared. "Not only were the men unable to oustain themselves decentiy, and forced oy circumstances to appeal to the Government to take them back to tho mainland, but they arrived in this country practicaily destitute, apd had to be succoured by the Smith Family organisation pending employment being found for them through the Government -sjpl^eement ofiicials. I axn hopeful that, as the result of the pubiicity given, no other members of oue eommunity will be carried away by alluring pictures painted by prospectuses, or by agents, and spendmg their, savings on what haa been proved to bo a foui's paradise."