ISLAND TRADE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 15, 17 July 1929, Page 11

ISLAND TRADE

SHIPPING SERVICES

OFFICIAL REVIEW

Despite the difficulties of the nine months ended 31st March last, and tho qripplHig effect of four Kcw Zealand ports of call, tho Maui Pomare made fifteen trips from the Islands to New Zealand. She has handled nearly 6000 tons of cargo. The total expenditure for the year exceeded the revenue by £1972 12s Id. The service can be regarded as a satisfactory performance for the inaugural year.—Sir A. T. Ngata,

Minister for Cook Islands.

Inadequate and unreliable sea communications with Niue Island for many years prior to 1925, states the annual ro-p-ort of the Cook Islands Department, caused considerable anxiety to the Government, and very seriously hampered development and trade with that island. Every effort was made by the Department to induce private enterprise to cater for the trade, but without success. Following is an extract from the report of the Eosident Commissioner, Niue, which followed the advent of a steamer service by the Maui Pomare: "For tho first time in the history of the island, the shipping includes no sailing vessels. The advent of a steamer service which made possible trado with New Zealand in bananas and other fruit, was hailed with delight by the natives.''

Tho report then outlines the usefulness of the Hinemoa in the Island trade. In spite of her age of over GO years' Government snvice, she proved a useful and reliable vessel, and more than justified the Department's action in putting her again into commission for Island purposes.

Although the entry of the Hinemoa into the service satisfactorily catered for the Niue Island trade, there, were, and had been for some years, pressing demands for improved shipping facilities between tho Islands and New Zealand. EXTENSION OF SERVICE. In 1920 tho Government appointed a Commission to inquire into tho conditions of trade, and to report upon the best means of promoting and encouraging an increase of trade between New Zealand aud these territories. The Commission—consisting of Sir George Elliot (chairman), Mr. W. E. Pearson, and Mr. Thomas AVilsou—iu their report stated: "Although Samoa grows many varieties of fruit, especially bananas, there is no, chance at present of a fruit trade being developed. The remedy is obvious: either the Now Zealand Government should mako equit-. able arrangements for a direct Saraoan service, or purchase suitable ships themselves. There seemed to be the same shipping, troubles iv nearly every island we visitedj and unloss the matter is satisfactorily dealt with, it is utterly impossible to look for trado development, for without a satisfactory service planters, Native or European, become disheartened, and consequently trade languishes. AVo are awaro that the carrying out of this recommendation would affect private enterprise, which is a matter to be doplorod, but the consequences are so vital that wo are constrained to make it."

The report of the Department states: "Although every endeavour was made from time to time to induce private enterprise to cater for thy trade, and public tenders for a satisfactory servico were invited, no improvement was offected. The Government therefore determined to replace the Hincmoa, which, on account of her build, was unsuitable for fruit-carrying, with a modern vessel fitted with insulated holds for the purposo- of carrying on these various services.

THE MAUI POMARE. Tho new vessel (which was subsequently named too Maui Pomare) was to provide a direct service betweon Samoa and Niue Island and New Zea. land ports, and was to be fitted with refrigerated space for tho carriage of perishable fruit cargoes, and to have a iiniited amount of accommodation for passengers. In addition, it was proposed that the vessel should provido certain services' from Samoa into tho Northern Cook and Union groups at intervals throughout tho year. A motorship was specially, determined upon, particularly because of the extensive radius of the vessel's itinerary during her periodical visits from Apia into tho northern islands, and the lack of coaling facilities in tho Pacific, and also with a viow to economy in space. Tenders were invitod from twenty-two ahip-building firms in Great Britain, forty-ono tenders being received. Thoso tenders were fully reported upon by tho Government Consulting Engineer in London, who recommended the "acceptance of the tender of Messrs. Dublin Dockyard Company, with Vickers-Pct-ters engine, the contract price being £54,000, with extras £4869 10s, a total of £58,869 10s. VOLUME OF TRADE. For the nine months ended 31st March, 1929, the Maui Pomare made 15 trips from the Islands to New Zealand (eight from Samoa and Niue, and eeven from Norfolk), and handled the following cargoes:—Auckland, 2080 tons, and 55,000 ft of timber; Wellington, 926 tons; Lyttelton, 1961 tons; Dunedin, 665 tons. Aggregate: North Island, 3006 tons; South Island, 2026 tons; total, 5632 tons. Included in these figures are 40,000 cases of bananas shipped direct for Southern ports. The total expenditure for the ten months ended 31st March,' 1929, exceeded the revenue by £1972 12s Id.

It should be noted that prior to the Government taking over the Niue service in 1925 au amount was expended on that service only for relief ships and subsidies of £3866 for the year. The initial year is naturally a heavyexpenditure one, and, in addition, owing to the Mau activities in Samoa, the ship's revenues were considerably handicapped on account of tho fact that tho anticipated banana cargoes wore not forthcoming, and the ship during part of the year ran on very small cargoes. On one occasion, also, hurricane conditions in the Islands rcsultod in half of a cargo having to be left behind, with the consequent loss of revenue. It is also a consideration that the freights to all Now Zealand ports are' on a flat rate, which places the vessel at a disadvantage as against private shipping firms, both as regards revenues and the- greatly-extended run to Southern ports so far south as Dunedin. The invisible profits of the trade that have been made possible by this vessel are also worthy of consideration.

Under the adverse conditions experienced throughout the year, therefore, the service has shown a surprisingly good tradin gresult, states the report.