MODERN CRUSOES. LICENSING REFORM ASSOCIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1924, Page 4

MODERN CRUSOES.

LICENSING REFORM ASSOCIATION

Bv F. Heatheote Brinnt in “Daily Mail") The various sections of the 1021 Census returns that have so far iheen issued have shown a surprising number jf instances of people apparently content to live C'rusoe-like lives on lonely islands.

Little Papa, in the Shetland*, for example, has only one inhabitant, while Havcrgnte Island, off Fast Suffolk. has a total population of two—both men. A man and his wife live alone on the Island of Holm of Grimbister in ihc Orkneys, while on Jlunda. south of Kirkwall, there are three people, and seven on Copinsliav. Off the west coast of Ireland lies Inishmurray. and the inhabitants of this remote island have the distinetioi of never having paid any taxes. There are tiny groups of male air female Cntsoes scattered throughout the world. On Poling Island, in the Straits Settlement, are a handful of people who, like their Irish colleagues, live a. tax-free life.

When Poling first defied the tax collector an attempt- was made to cn,oi!v payment, and 1 IT.M. gunboat Wasp was sent to persuade the islanders to hand over their share of the Empire’s expenses, lint the boat was wrecked anil all hands were lest. Since then the authorities have left the place alone. Last year, air SummcMime* a ro--111(>i| Xew York merchant, advertise! 1 for a man to live on an uninhabited island in a lake on his estate at Burlington. Vermont. The island is used as a breeding iri'oiind for ceitain varieties of seagulls, and the man’s duty was to guard the nests from possible robbery by natives. Food and lodging were offered, hut no pay. hut there were so many men eager >o live the solitary life that more than 1.000 replies were rercivt'd Tlio answers were not. as might he supposed, from tramps and professional "work-dodgers,’ 1 hut from lawyers, ex-soldiers, sailors, artists and university men.

JJI\\KDI-N, -May 21. At a lepiosontative meeting yesterday an Otago branch of the licensing Deform Association was Sovmed. I)r. Billiards. Bishop of Dunedin, being elect .'d president. A strong committee was set up and resolutions were lot warded to the Prime Minister asking for the substitution of the corporate contiol proposal in place of the present third issue of State purchase: als-i immediate and comprehensive reforms to the existing licensing system and protestiipg against the attempt now being made to remove ilie thin! issue from the ballot paper on the grounds of the people’s right of voting for reform as against continuance or prohibition which should b? jealously safeguarded hv Parliament.