TRADE WITH PACIFIC

Evening Star, Issue 19142, 8 January 1926, Page 11

TRADE WITH PACIFIC

—» ' 02REOT SOUTH ISLAND MUTE OISGUSSIOH BY BUSINESS KEH SAMOAN ADMINISTRATOR'S REMARKS The* possibilities of establishing improved trade relations between the South Island and _ the Pacific possessions were fully discussed by business men yesterday at a mooting hold under the auspices of the Manufacturers’ Association, when the Administrator of Samoa (General Sir George Richardson j and the Hon. J. Boyd, M.L.C. (Fijian Commissioner at the Exhibition), wore present to odor first-hand information. Mr J. Hogg presided. Shipping facilities, it was agreed, wore the main essential of bringing about the proposed direct trading relationship, and the outcome of the meeting was the institution of negotiations to establish a direct trade route, tho local representatives presenting facts indicating that tho service would 1)0 fully justified. Samoa’s opportunities were dealt with first in an interesting address given by General Richardson. SOUTH ISLAND'S HANDICAP.

In explaining tho objects of the meeting, the Chairman said that it really arose out of a conference held at tho Exhibition on the previous day. A desire was expressed that they should meet General Richardson and Mr Boyd and impress upon them tho necessity of direct trade between Samoa, Fiji, and the South Island. They wanted fresh fruit and raw materials from the Islands, and asked to he placed oh an equal fooling with Auckland. Ho considered that under the present conditions they were not getting tho fruit that they should. The islands were closely allied with the dominion, and they wanted to sec better_ trading relations established. Shipping was tl'o groat difficulty, hut ho hoped to see a direct service established by tho Union Company, and he felt sure that they could roly on Sir George Richardson and Mr Boyd hacking them up. GENERAL RICHARDSON HOPEFUL General Richardson said that lie considered New Zealand could well lake a good deal of wiiat Samoa and Fiji produced. Now Zealand, ho said, under the treaty had a sacred trust as far as Samoa was concerned, and he behoved that New Zealand was destined to play r a very important part indeed in the Pacific—a very much more important part than they were visualising that day. 1:1 o believed that they were not looking at matters from a purely selfish point of view. He stressed the fact that the population of Samoa was under 40,000, 9d per cent, of whom worn natives. There were great possibilities as far as the fruit trade was concerned, but little could be done at iho present time. It was essential that they should have a direct shipping route, if lie knew that definite shipping arrangements could he made he could arrange for the fruit to ho planted, and ho was sure that tho growers would he only ton pleased to help tho country. High-grade cocoa was now being grown in Samoa. and it was hoped in the future to export rubber, though ho realised that they wanted fruit and cocoa more than anything else. “With regard to poods going into. §amoa. Sir George emphasised that the country would require more manufactures in the future. At the present time Australia was doing more trade 'with Samoa than New Zealand. THE EXHIBITION’S MISSION. As an Exhibition director, Mr J. Sutherland Ross staled, he would not ho satisfied with the results of tho Exhibition if improved trade relations did not follow. Remarking that they had a. “soft spot” for Fiji, Mr Ross made reference, (o a lecture which would be given by the Hon. J. Boyd, M.R.G., on the subject of Fiji, and added that it was desirable that there should he trade with the Islands and essential that direct shipping should ho developed. Tho present conditions under which fruit was brought (o the South Island left much room for improvement, and that might ho provided by the institution of direct trade to New Zealand. Asked if ho would give some information respecting the possibilities of trade with Fiji, Mr Boyd replied that ho would tse prepared to make a statement later, hut at present he would content himself with emphasising that the establishment of the trade route was the most essential matter. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. Some interesting remarks upon the. trade relations already existing between Now Zealand and the Islands were made by Mr J. W. Collins, of the Department of Industries and Commerce, in the course of his suggestions as to the line of action to be adopted in further developing the trade. Expressing his pleasure at attending tho first meeting hold since Ihe opening of the Exhibition to consider trade relations with other countries, Mr Collins added that his department had co-operated with the Department of External Affairs on the question, and it had been his duty to comment on the export and import trade with the Islands. Now Zealand held an important place as far as imports were concerned, said Air Collins. He agreed with General Richardson that New Zealand was not. sufficiently commercially represented in the Islands, and it must suffer if it had only one delegate. In regard to export trade, Mr Collins mentioned two valuable Samoan products, cocoa, and copra. New Zealand imported 129 tons of cocoa beans from Samoa, but vast quantities were brought from other countries. Why did they not get the bulk of this product from Samoa? Ho understood that it was necessary to have a “ mixture,” but at tho same time business men had told him that they would prefer to trade with Samoa, and would he willing to take more than they imported at present. Tho fruit trade lie considered should bo developed. INVESTIGATION ESSENTIAL. “ But it is no good merely to press for a direct shipping service and a subsidy from tho Government,” Mr Collins emphasised. “ The first thing is to send a competent man to Samoa and Fiji, and report fully on different questions affecting trade.” Many investigations could bo made, Mr Collins said, that might prove to their advantage. Was the packing of goods sent from Now Zealand correct? Why was it that Australia sold £14,1)00 worth ot textiles there as against New Zealand’s £8,000? New Zealand took a pride in her woollen products, and should not have second place. There must he some reason why Australia sold nearly 100 per cent, more of these products in Australia. THE LESSON OF JAVA. Mr Collins, pursuing his objection to their being contented merely with agitating for a direct service, reminded the, meeting that a. similar situation had arisen in their trade with Java, and that he had emphasised^the importance ol Javan products. Ihe teply ol the business interests was “Give us shipping,” and they go., tho three months’ service. Though this service had long been established, however, the position now was that the Government was unable to offer tho shipping company £2OO worth of cargo. They would he in a much heller position to enlist aid in their negotiations for direct trade with the Islands if their request was preceded bv the securing of a report on the lines that be had suggested.

TOURIST POSSIBILITIES. “Tourist traffic could also be developed with advantage,” added Mr Collins. He had been impressed during his brief and pleasurable association with Mr Boyd with the tourist possibilities of Fiji, and General Richardson could toll them of similar facilities in Samoa. A tour of the Islands offered a complete change, dietary- and scenic, and between them and .New Zealand a valuable trade could bo developed. “ So far as the Department of Industries and Commerce is concerned,” Mr Collins concluded, “ it is out to afford every possible facility and give every possible assistance in tho project that has been launched to-day.” MORE FRUIT WANTED. Mr H. C. Campbell said that the matter came before tho Chamber of Commerce eighteen months ago, but nothing tangible had been done. They wanted tho fruit very badly—they really didn’t know what fruit was in Dunedin. Mr G. J. Williamson, representing the Fruit lmp«Hers’ Association, dealt with tho difficulties connected with the Island trader. Mho quality of the fruit was anything but tho best. Mr W. B. Steel said that he would got in touch with the Expansion Leagues in Invercargill and Christchurch in order to “push tho Government.”