SHIP TO NORFOLK

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 978, 22 May 1930, Page 15

SHIP TO NORFOLK

NO STATE SUBSIDY FOR PRIVATE SERVICE AUSTRALIA GETS TRADE The Hon. J. B. Donald, Minister of Industries and Commerce, recently told members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce that the Government would not subsidise a privately-operated steamer service between Auckland and Norfolk Island in place of the Maui Pomare’s service. Mr. Malcolm Stewart, president of the chamber, made this statement at today’s meeting of the council of the chamber. He believed, however, that it was worth the chamber’s effort to try to get some reasonable subsidy. It was hopeless to ask the Government to restore the Maui Pomare because the ship’s time was fully occupied with her present itinerary. Commenting on the position Mr. Stewart said that it had been thought that private enterprise w r ould go forward and initiate a service to Norfolk Island. He believed that the Northern Steamship Company had some proposal involving a Government subsidy. It was to be regretted that Auckland merchants were losing trade in the meantime. In a letter to an Auckland firm a trading concern at Norfolk stated apprehensively that trade was reverting to Australia. It was regrettable that trade was being lost in one day after being built up after three years’ efforts, the letter said. There was, nevertheless, another way open, the Norfolk firm suggested. Why should a run not be established between New Zealand and New Caledonia, via Norfolk Island? It would increase the tourist traffic and open up new possibilities for New Zealand. “During the past three years a number of New Zealanders have settled on Norfolk,” the letter says. ‘‘They now find themselves absolutely cut off from their friends and relatives. Owing to the fact that these New Zealanders were the means of increasing trade between New Zealand and XorI folk the Government’s action appears ; to be rather drastic.”