THE ISLAND TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 6

THE ISLAND TRADE.

HO BOAT FROM AUCKLAND. COMPLAINT BY SHIPPERS. A complaint concerning the shipping arrangements in connection with the Island fruit trade'eame before the Chamber of Commerce yesterday, when John Burns and Co. drew attention to the fact that the s-s. Flora had 'been taken off the Eastern Pacific run. "The policy of the Union Company for some years now seems to the merchants and shippers interested in this group of islands to be to try if possible to divert the business to Wellington," stated the correspondents. The Flora, it was stated, was too alow, her time-table was erratic, and she was often late, with the result that a lot of fruit arrived in a damaged condition, and the Cook Island fruitgrowing industry was being practically killed. Finally the company had taken the Flora off when she was going down with the Christmas goods, and stated that all goods had to go via Wellington per s.s. Tahiti. In such circumstances thn company should carry the goods free to Wellington.

The secretary stated that he had wired the Prime Minister and the U.S.S. Company's manager, and the former had replied that he was taking the matter up. The company's manager replied that as the fruit season was practically over, and there was no prospect of sufficient back-loading from the Islands to cover the expenses of the trip, and the importers would not guarantee 13,000 cases of fruit, the company had to cancel the trip. The vessel had been run at a loss since June, and the deficiency on the last trip was £1300. The company had arranged for a special coastal rate for general cargo and goods forwarded via Wellington.

After brief discussion the council referred the matter to its shipping com mittee, with power to act.