FICTITIOUS VALUES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 770, 17 September 1929, Page 9

FICTITIOUS VALUES

LAND ON NORFOLK ISLAND FRENCH BEANS FOR SYDNEY Norfolk Islanders have put fictitious values on their land in the opinion of Mr. D. P. Searfe, of Raetihi. who returned by the Maui Poruare. He says the object is evidently to keep the mainlanders out. Although the residents of the island are hospitality itself they rather want th© island to themselves. Mr. Scarfe says that land which brought £ls an aero five years ago is now priced at £7O. “Th© inhabitants are beginning to wake up,” h«* says. “The banana trade is good, and there is a big demand for Island fruit in Australia. One man who has lived on th© island for over 20 years is just starting to plant bananas for the market.” Mr. Scarfe says that at present thero is a big demand for French beans for the Sydney markets. The Islanders can produce 56 bushels of them to th© acre and they are sold at 30s a bushel. Quite an industry is also developing in the export of passion fruit Juice. Although the island looks wonderfully green, Mr. Scarfe says that this is due to the growth of a weed which should bo exterminated. There ar* thousands of acres which only need slight cultivation to make them productive. “In my opinion Norfolk Island is the place for the young man with about £I.OOO capital.’’ lie remarked. The Maui Pomaro brought 200 cases of new potatoes from the island, a small quantity of tomatoes and many cases of oranges and bananas.