SOUTH SEA TRADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 132, 5 June 1923, Page 5

SOUTH SEA TRADE.

CARRIAGE OF COPRA. UNION COMPANY'S ATTITUDE. The truth of the statement that the Union Steam Phip Company's boats did not carry copra from the Islands, whicl appeared in an article published in the supplement of the Auckland "Star" las! Saturday, was denied !>}' Mr. M. Rudd actins-rrinnacrer of the company, thK , morning. Mr. Rudd stated that thu | Union Company placed no restrictions on copra, and did not decline to carry it. The Tofua, at present encased in the Tiji-Tonga-Samoa trade, was employed especially for all copra offering, and endeavoured to carry all that was available. The company also quoted special low rates for copra in order to secure the conveyance of eueh cargo to New Zealand and hence to London. In regard to the statement that fruithad not been shipped from Tonga to New Zealand during the past ten years, Mt. Rudd eaid that during the past few years the company had been dispatching boats to these islands. The following steamers arriving here as under made special calls at Tonga this year to load I fruit for Auckland:—Kaitoke, arriving ! February 22: Kaikorai, arriving March 124; Kawatiri, arriving April 16; Kaitoke, arriving May 1">. The Kawatiri is at present loading a cargo of fruit at Tonga. The Union Company, concluded Mr. Rudd, wae doing its best to develop the Fiji-Tonga-Samoa trade, and in order to induce travelling had placed the Tofua lin the running- not only to carry cargo ; I but also to get the public to make the 'South Sea Island trips. The steamer was 'an expensive one, and the public were showing their appreciation by travelling hv her. There had never, however, been a full cargo cither way.