ITINERARY OF MAUI POMARE

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 102, 24 January 1930, Page 10

ITINERARY OF MAUI POMARE

GOVERNMENT’S BANANA CONTRACT Dominion Special Service. Dunedin, January 23. At a meeting of local commercial and shipping interests held to-day and presided over by Mr. A. H. Allen, president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, the following resolution was carried unanimously:— “Thnt. this meeting of representatives from the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce, Dunedin Manufacturers’ Association, Otago Importers and Shippers’ Association, South Island Fruit Brokers’ Association, Otago Expansion League, and Dunedin fruit retailers expresses to Cabinet Its appreciation and thanks for Its decision that Dunedin is to be retained as a port of call in the itinerary of the Maui Pomare. It much regrets, however, to learn that the contract entered into by Cook Islands Department for the supply per trip of 4500 cases of Samoan bananas to the South Island Fruit and Produce Brokers’ Association has been cancelled and a further contract let to an Auckland firm in spite of a vigorous protest from the South Island Fruit and Produce Brokers’ Association that the contract entered into with it should be given a fair trial. If Government Departments can so abrogate their contracts, what inducements will there be to contract with them? Under the new contract, in spite of Cabinet’s decision, it appears probable that Dunedin will be omitted as a port of call, and we need only instance the present trip, when the vessel, destined for Dunedin, was diverted without sufficient cause to Wellington. We emphatically protest against any possibility of the present itinerary of the vessel being interfered with, and call upon Cabinet to Insist . upon its decision being adhered to. We desire to emphasise the fact that spasmodic service will seriously jeopardise any chance of southern traders or exporters developing a steady trade.” Cost of Fruit in Dunedin. A further resolution was carried providing for steps to be taken to place the South Island viewpoint before the Prime Minister and the Administrator of Samoa. The chairman mentioned that when the Maui Pomare was coming direct to this port bananas were landed at 18/6 per case, whereas the cost now was 25/- .per case. ' The diversion of the vessel on her last trip suggested that some undue Influence had been brought to bear and there was little doubt where it came from.