ISLANDERS ALARMED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 938, 3 April 1930, Page 11

ISLANDERS ALARMED

TRADE JUSTIFIES SHIP'S NORFOLK SERVICE POPULARITY INCREASING United P. A.—By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 9.5 a.m. SYDNEY, Today. The Administrator’s annual report at Norfolk Island states the population has increased by 30 for the year, the total now being 932, of whom 490 are males. The Island is increasing in popularity as a health resort, but is unsuited to cases of pulmonary consumption or asthma. Practically the whole of the trade is distributed between Sydney and Auckland in proportion to 66 and 33 per cent, respectively. Imports from Australia increased in the past four years from £17,369 to £32,193 and from New Zealand from £1,371 to £23,325. An influx of motor vehicles was largely responsible for the increase in imports. The banana industry continues to expand, 25,152 cases having been shipped, compared wjth 11,068 cases in the previous year. Considerable alarm is expressed at the intention of the New Zealand Government to discontinue the visits of the vessel Maui Pomare, which is regarded as a commercial calamity. There is a considerable demand for land, but this is difficult to procure. The Administrator points out that it is anomalous that butter and bacon should still be imported in considerable quantities to a fertile island, where dairying could be successfully developed.