TASMANIA’S AIM

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 189, 8 May 1931, Page 11

TASMANIA’S AIM

Better Trade With N.Z.

SECESSION MOVEMENT Engaged, on a. mission for the improvement of trade between New Zealand and Tasmania, Mr. J. M.. Fisher, a leading business man of Hobart, arrived by 'the Maunganui on Tuesday. He officially represents the Tasmanian Government, and will devote his time to getting in touch with interested departmental Ministers and officers and with chambers of commerce and other business organisations. Particular directions in which trade can be developed are timber and tourists on one side, said Mr. Fisher to “The Dominion” yesterday, and dairy produce on the other. The most pressing need, of course, is the restoration of a direct shipping service, a thing that he recognises is rather difficult during the present depression, Nevertheless, there is reason to hope that better

communications will be restored in due course. As an instance of the disadvantages of the present system, Mr. Fisher mentioned that It took him from Monday to Friday to reach Sydney, and from Friday to Tuesday to reach Wellington, a total travelling time of eight days over a distance of 2000 miles. From Hobart to Bluff direct the distance is 900 miles. Mr. Fisher recalls the earlier days when Tasmanian hardwood was exported to New Zealand in large quantities. The Federation of Australia and the Commonwealth shipping laws checked this trade, which was diverted to New South Wales. Tourist traffic to Tasmania to-day also suffers through the lack of shipping facilities. A strong secession movement is afoot in Tasmania, said Mr. Fisher, and a league has been formed to take steps to release the State from association with the Commonwealth. The league’s membership has Increased enormously recently, and includes most of the leading people of the island. Funds are mounting rapidly, and these will be. devoted to pushing the campaign ahead on both political and legal grounds. Mr. Fisher will leave shortly for the south, and will return later to Wellington. His mission will take him throughout the Dominion.