THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 272, 10 August 1908, Page 2

THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

(bt telegraph.—speciax correspondent.) . Auckland, August 8. Referring to a series of special articles on the Pacific Islands just concluded in the "Herald," that journal remarks: —The geographical position of Now Zealand, and Auckland' in particular, is so advantageous that with a reasonable display of energy the commercial control of the entire South Pacific would bo ours. Not only is the trade .already valuable, but industrial developments are rapidly, enhancing, its worth, while the opening of the Pananta Canal must inevitably make it one of the most desirable in the world. Yet Auckland is doing practically nothing, and is losing the Pacific Islands trade to Australia and other rivals from the same supiheness through which she is losing the King Country trade to Wellington." The Islands trade of Australia is already worth two millions sterling annually, and is'increasing, while ours is comparatively insignificant ana is decreasing. Sydney is seven dayi from Fiji, while Auckland is only four, yet the Sjdiiey tr*dor« are driving us' from Fiji just as they nre ousting us" from Tonga and other groups. Even in tho Cook Islands, our last hold, Australian and other are gaining ground. If tho Islands trade is to be regained our merchants will, have to bestir themselves and at once, for in a few years it will have gone beyond rocovery.