FROM LOS ANGELES

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 141, 17 June 1919, Page 10

FROM LOS ANGELES

A TRADE EMISSARY

PROSPECTS 01? A RISING PORT,

A special meeting of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce was held yesterday afternoon to- hear an address by Mr. Albert Goidie, a representative of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and Board of Harbour. Commissioners. Mr. Thomas Ballinger presided. Mr. (Joldie said the chief subject ho wished to discuss was the proposed advent of a direct line of steamers between Los Angeles and New Zealand and Australia. There had been big industrial developments in Los Angeles lately, and the city was now organising to.claim the share of foreign trade to which it was entitled by its geographical situation. It was close to the Mexican. ( border, and was even, now commanding a good deal of the trade of Mexico, which was rapidly becoming settled. It was 500 miles nearer to New Zealand than San Francisco, and was one day's, steam closer to the eastern ports of the United States. Los Angeles was the biggest centre in Southern California. It had a population of 650,000, and was growing faster than any other in the States. The country round about produced oils, all kinds of fruit; nuts', olives, and lately ite canned fish industry had grown* into quite a. big thing. With this foreign trade movement, capital had be«n forthcoming to assist the manufacturers to build for the export trade, and they were now piepared to export such lines as canned fruits and vegetables, and fish, soap, motor-car accessories, polishes, building materials— the Los Angeles bungalows were the most up-to-date in the world—and various other commodities. In return California could do with all the wool, pelts, hides, flax, and kauri gum that New Zealand could offer, so that the time was unquestionably ripe for an interchange of products. Being the nearest American port, and ,commanding the best railway ■ routes to the Eastern .States, it would be seen that Los Angeles had claims. Later, when they had 20----knot steamers running, the port would be only some twelve days' steam from New Zealand. The Los Angeles Pacific Steam Navigation Company had been formed, and had chartered some of the ships built for the United States Government. Ten weeks ago the first steamer, with 7000 tons of cargo, left Los Angeles for the Orient. The people of Los Angeles were prepared to go equal shares with the people here in providing capital .with which to build ships, if necessary, for this trade. Their object was, of course, to endeavour to secure full cargoes at this end, and he looked to the members of the various Chambers of Commerce to assist them in getting cargoes of our raw : materials. As the question was simply one of securing tonnage, he had been asked to wait upon the Union Steam Ship Company, and at Dunedin had held a conference with the officials of the company, pointing out that the Los Angeles movement to secure steamers was more of a patriotic character than anything else, and asking if the company would gjuarariteo a regular service, for the time being. The officials of the company said they had been looking at Los Angeles for a long time, and said they would be willing to put on steamers as soon as they were available—they had been held up at Home on account of the industrial unrest—if the people of Los Angeles would undertake, to provide cargoes. Now the authorities at Los Angeles were waiting to hear from the sneaker as to co-opera-tion from this end. New Zealand had .everything to gain 'from closer, trade re'la-' tions with the Pacific Coast, as none of them knew what would happen in the future,

Mr. Goldie was asked a number of questions with regard to exports, and exa<cfc schedules of charges. He promised to obtain specific information from the Harbour Commissioners.

He was thanked for his address, and the hope was expressed that before long trade relations would be established on a. solM Idr.sjs between the new port and New Zealand.