INTENSELY LOYAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 294, 6 August 1932, Page 6

INTENSELY LOYAL

NORFOLK ISLANDERS LXVE CAREFREE AND HAPPY LIFE. Colonel A. J. Bennett, who ?i|as completed three years as Adminis-

trator of Norfolk Island, told members of the Sydney Millions Club in a luncheon address that the island ers were intensely loyal, and treated the Administrator as the representative of the King. They always emphasised that they got the freehold of their land direct from Queen Victoria, though, as Colonel Bennett explained, it was then the policy of the Government to give each resident the freehold of 50 acres. At that time, sair Colonel Bennett, j there was no money circulated on the island, and everything was done by barter. The people then lived a free and easy but happy life. With the coming of the mainlanders the island had become commercialised, and now mcney uias the basis of business. The first motor car came to the island only six years ago, and then it was only allowed on the road for two hours daily lest it might frighten the stock grazing on the roads. His own experience was that the island stock was so lazy, or so decrepit, that the motorist, instead of frightening them, would have to get out of his car and push the animals out of the way. Better strains were now being introduced. When a new bull was first introduced for that purpose the islanders would not have him, so one night they pushed him over the cliffs. Colonel Bennett said the climate of the island was wonderful, but issued a warning that it was unsuitahl'e, owing to the extreme humidity, for anyone with tubercular trouble. As a place for rest and recuperation, or for a sporting holiday, a better place could not be selected.