OUR TRADE WITH TAHITI

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 59, 10 March 1923, Page 7

OUR TRADE WITH TAHITI

GOING THROUGH STRANGLING

PROCESS.

EFFORTS FOR REVIVAL. ARRANGEMENT WITH SHIPPING COMPANY. Although the trade between Tahiti and Auckland may not be of so prreat importance to Auckland as it is to Tahiti, yet the fact that it has been dwindling to the vanishing point, is a matter of some concern to all interested in commercial progress. Once it was common to -hear the words "Tahiti oranges," and know them for being among the most luscious of their kind, now one rarely hears of such a fruit as coming from Tahiti. The French establishments in Oceania, of which Tahiti and the Marquesas are the main groups, contain more fertile land than the whole of Hawaii, and only require development to render them an important source of wealth both to the producer and to the people with whom he trades. Thia aspect is emphasised by Mr. R. C. Donaldson, an Aucklander who for some years pasrt has been resident in Papeete, and who U at present on a visit to his native place in an endeavour to have some of the ob&taclee removed to the development of trade between Auckland and these Eestern Pacific islands. Two serious factors stand .in the way ■of trade development between Tahiti and Auckland, said Mr. Donaldson, one being the restrictions placed upon the importation of Tahiti fruit into New Zealand, and *the other the absence of adequate shipping facilities. One of the objects of his visit -was to arrange, if possible, for a satisfactory service to Tahiti, and this will probably be achieved by an arrangement with a "wellknown steamship company. Under this arrangement a 'steamer will call at Papeete from Auckland at fairly regular intervale, either every two months or three months, taking merchandise from here to Papeete, and .picking up cargo there for the American ccast. "So far as the fruit ia concerned," added Hγ. Donaldson, "I am making some inquiries in Auckland to sec if any -means can be devised for the re-establishment of what was once a lucrative export trade from Tahiti to Auckland. A few years ago one Auckland firm alone did business with Papeete averaging £3000 per month, and to-day the whole trade between Tahiti and New Zealand would not amount to this sum monthly. So far ac our purchases from New Zealand go, ,we draw upon you for tinned meats, potatoes and onions in season, and also tinned milk and butter. Owing, however to the inferior packing of the New Zealand butter the American article, though -much dearer to land, is ousting iit for table purposes, while American tinned milk is rapidly taking the place of the Australian and New Zealand brands. We get flour and biscuits from Australia, as New Zealand cannot compete in price in those commodities. From America w* obtain most of our textiles and clothing goods, implements, hardware and other commodities, while from France, the only imports are wines and a little hardware. One cannot, of course, expect shipping people to send vessels along on regular tripe if t,he freight is not offering to make those trips pay, but till within the past few years a considerable trade existed between Auckland and Papeete, and there seem.4 to be no good ' reason why it should not be revived."