TRADE WITH THE ISLANDS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10112, 20 October 1917, Page 6

TRADE WITH THE ISLANDS.

NEW ZEALAND'S SPHERE IN THE PACIFIC (Feom Oub Pabmamentae? Repobteb.) WELLINGTON, Oct, 24). An interesting debate on New Zealand's trade with tho Pacific Islands arose in tho House this afternoon, -when Mr Wilkinson, as chairman, brought down the report of the Industries Committee, in which they recommended that closer attention bo given by tho Government to trade with the South Sea Islands. Since the war the withdrawal of steamers from the Island trade hiss had a damaging effect on trade. Fruit lias gone to waste, or has been (liveried to Australia, and since the Islanders naturally buy where they sell Sydney merchants have been securing the trade that used to belong lo Auckland. Oranges that the native-; are ready to ship at -twopence 1 per dozen are selling'in New Zealand at threepence each. Mr Glover and Mr Poole urged the Government to improve the communication!? and develop the phosphate, of the. Islands of the. Pacific, in the interests of the New Zealand farm- ' ers. Mr Massey said the importance of the Islands was being realised even men; fully in London than in New Zealand. The Panama Canal had brought the Islands nearer Europe, and great developments could be looked for. lie believed (as Sir George Grey bad believed years oariier) that this country was destined to bo the Head of a South Pacific Island Federation. The constitution of tho Islands had been discussed at the last Imperial Conference, and would be discussed again after the close of the war. Fiji and Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands belonged properly to New Zealand's sphere and the Government had nor neglected to express' its; view to Imperial authorities. lie bad made strong representations in favour of the retention of the German Island of present in British possession, on account of its vast depths of phosphate rock.