AN ISLAND UTOPIA.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXII, Issue 2791, 17 May 1911, Page 2

AN ISLAND UTOPIA.

Lord Howe Island, which lies off the coast of New bouth Wales and is one of the tiny dependencies of the Stale, possesses the unique distinction of being the only place in the world where the ornamental kentia palm grows naturally. The island has a population of ioo, of whom 25 are adults, and their sole means of livelihood is the trade they carry on in the seed of their peculiar palm, for which their is a considerable demand in Europe. As the cable informed us a short time back, the palm seed trade has been the subject of a Royal Commission, and the commissioner has recommended that the control of the business-should not be allowed to pass out of the hands of the

State. For many years the little industry of the island was unprofitable, because the islanders themselves would not help each other to do business on reasonable lines, and some years ago a company was formed to manage the business, shares being allotted to a number ot the inhabitants and the necessary capital being provided by a resident of Sydney. His venture has returned him a very handsome profit, but he seems to have gone into it as much with the philanthropic idea of improving the condition of the islanders as with the purpose of securing His own enrichment. The proposal to reserve the control ot the industry to the State has been made solely with the object of conserving the interests of the islanders, and it is admitted that since the company was formed the trade has been placed on a sound footing. The residents constitute practically a co-opera-tive society, and they have made the island a veritable Utopia.