SAMOAN TRADE

Evening Star, Issue 18255, 20 April 1923, Page 6

SAMOAN TRADE

AUSTRALIA LEADS. DOMINION LOSING GROUND. Speaking in Wellington, Colonel R. W. Tate said that despite four strenuous years in Samoa ho felt strong and well. There was so much to talk about that it was difficult to know what aspect to present. Since his return ho had wondered if people were interested in Samoa. They could not afford to bo apathetic. The country was governed under a mandate, under a trust, to the islands and its inhabitants. It was different to tho old system of annexation, and, although notable successes had been achieved m Samoa, they could not afford to slacken up. If there was trade to bo done there, why should not New Zealand do it P Tho volume of trade was consistent, and for the four years up to 1923 imports amounted to £1,455,000 and exports £1,520,000, or nearly equal. At present Australia was doing tho largest share of tho business, except in meat. It should bo possible in many instances where New Zealand came second to capture that trade. Perhaps they could not get tho flour trade, as New Zealand flour would not keep in the tropics. But New Zealand should ho able to take the lead, as in< 1921 her exports to Samoa were £130,000, against £IOO,OOO from Australia. New Zealand was losing much of her trade to Australia, and was likely to lose more. New Zealand had a bad reputation in tho Pacific. There were certain defects which could and should he remedied. The dominion merchants sent few, if any, catalogues to Samoa to siiow what they could soil. Australia had several travellers going round Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa. Now Zealand also had a reputation for bad packing, and seldom got a clean receipt from the shipping company for goods received. Modern methods _of packing wore not adopted. Australia baled and pressed her chaff; New Zealand sent it in bags; and Australian chaff was also £4 cheaper. Those disabilities should bo removed, for New Zealand should he doing the hulk of tho trade by direct steamers. Samoa could supply copra for oil, cocoa, fruit, kapok, and many other things, and as the islands were" several hundred miles nearer New Zealand the dominion people should seriously consider the economic position.