ISLANDS TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 16236, 4 October 1916, Page 6

ISLANDS TRADE

HOW TO OUST GERMANS. INQUIRY IN AUSTRALIA. . ' FREIGHTS AND LABOR. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, October 4. (Received October 4, at 9.10 a.m.) The Interstate Commission have commenced an inquiry into the question of British and Australian trade in the South Pacific Islands. The Chief Commissioner explained that tho inquiry was the result of a Government request to investigate the copra trade with Australia and report whether it was desirable that special action should be taken with a view to increasing Australian and British control of such trade. He read a cable from the Secretary of State for the Colonies informing the Commonwealth Government that tho Now Zealand Government had made representations to the Home Government as to probable difficulties and successful competition after tho war with a leading German firm, the Deutsche Handels and tho Plantagen Gesellschaft, doing business in tho South Pacific. The policy of the Commonwealth, he said, was to increase its control over Australian and British copra and other trades in the South Pacific which had previously been in German hands. This would bo equally achieved whether the trade came to the Commonwealth or to any other part of the Empire. New Zealand had initiated certain inquiries as to the copra trade in the Tongan Group, and it had been arranged between the Governments concerned that the Commonwealth should enjoy the co-operation of ■ both the New Zealand Government and tho High Commissioner for the Western Pacific. After reviewing the administration of the various islands, fie said the Commission were not concerned ore r any question. of tho readjustment of administration, which could only be undertaken by tho Imperial Government in the settlement of the terms of pence. It would be best for the Commission to consider all British Island territory involved in relation to the whole question of British and German trade. An important portion of tho inquiry would be connected with shipping, banking-, and postal and telegraph, communication, and possibly, to a i., mi fed extent with rim int-'-vSi’K e of labor between jS iands. " y Mr Meek, managing director of Lever Brothers (soup manufacturers), gave evidence as to the advantages which German shipping companies had in the way of copra c. .ghts prior to tho war, largely one to their Government subsidy. The shipping of copra to Sydney from Tonga via Auckland had increased in freight by 15s a ton, but he thought the SydneyTonga lino would be re-established" after the war. There was great scope for the development of other Island products beside copra, but the trouble was to get siufieient labor. The natives only worked to keep themselves. Indian labor had been mentioned, and the Fijian Government were negotiating with' the Home Government for establishing continuous Indian immigration. Speaking generally on the Islands, witness thought that great development vyhs not possible without introduced labor.