TRADERS INDIGNANT.

Auckland Star, Issue 265, 8 November 1929, Page 10

TRADERS INDIGNANT.

CITY WILL LOSE TRADE.

COMMENTS BY MERCHANTS

" WEAKNESS OF OUR M.P.'S,«

Auckland business men, particularly merchants trading with the Islands, are indignant at the Government's adoption of the Industries and Commerce Committee's report, containing the recommendation that Auckland should be eliminated from the ports of call for the Maui Pomare. Unofficial conferences have been held this morning and it is likely that some move will be made either to come to terms with the Government or to ensure the continuance of some service between Auckland and both Norfolk and Niue Islands.

"The most regrettable feature of the passage of the report was the weakness of so many of the Auckland members of Parliament," remarked one merchant this morning. "One or two of them opposed it, but generally it might be said that they neglected to make a definite effort against it."

No Effect on Fruit Trade.

"The elimination of Auckland from the ports of call will make very little difference to the fruit business," said Mr. Harvey Turner, of Turners and Growers, Ltd., "but other merchants who have established trade with Norfolk and Niue will, suffer, and further, the Government is under an obligation to those New Zealanders who have settled at Norfolk. The fruit trade was getting practically nothing through the Maui Pomare's service; most of our bananas and pineapples come from Fiji and are brought by the Tofua. Occasionally the Waipahi makes a trip; in fact a consignment of surplus bananas was delivered from her this morning. "The fruit trade will not be affected," repeated Mr. Turner. "Those who will suffer will be the New Zealanders who have settled at Norfolk, and those Auckland merchants who have built up a business with that island and Niue." " Steamer is a Burden." Another point of view was emphasised by Mr. F. A. Hellaby, of R. and W. Hellaby, Ltd. "The Government have put the Maui Pomare on to carry fruit to ports among which Auckland is ndt included," he said. "Admittedly the steamer is a burden to the country, and not only are Auckland merchants to get no benefit from the service, but they are required to contribute towards the cost of it. As far as my own firm is concerned, Norfolk and Niue buy nearly all their tinned meats from Auckland, and the city will certainly lose that trade. It will possibly go to Australia. It means that Auckland merchants are expected to pay part of the loss on the service and in addition, are to lose business which they have enjoyed for years, and for which they have provided the necessary capital." "Trade Will Be Lost." "There is onj point of paramount importance. If. Auckland is eliminated from the ports of call, then the export trade to Norfolk and Niue will be lost, not only to Auckland, but to the whole of New Zealand," declared Mr. J. B. Grove, of W. H. Grove and Sons, Ltd. "From a national viewpoint, it would not be so serious if the southern ports were going to benefit at the expense of Auckland, but the benefit will go outside the Dominion altogether. At present, copra is not being brought to New Zealand by the Maui Pomare. It is being sold to Pacific combines that pay no income tax in New Zealand. Niue copra, upon which a number of firms depend for their products, is being brought to New Zealand through Samoa, but the cost is far too heavy. r fhis trade has belonged to Auckland for thirty years, and it would be a blow to the province to lose it. Further, it would not pay southern firms to stock some of the 'goods which Auckland merchants stock. \The Maui Pomare is run at the cost of the taxpayers, and to give the benefit of the trade to firms outside New Zealand is deplorable."