SHIPPING FOR THE ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17371, 19 January 1920, Page 6

SHIPPING FOR THE ISLANDS.

Sir,—lt h? interesting to read in tha HMwiiD ]of January 10 the report by the Resident Commissioner on the Cook Islands as «'o : want .of shipping space, on which the prosperity of the islands wholly depends,; and that half a million cases of ( fruit alone could be sent to New Zealand annually. It is also interesting to read in the Heimi.d of January 10 and 12 of, the great' shipping '. venture iby > the ! Carwcian Government from; which Zealand vid certainly benefit. '■ Here is a grand opportunity for the Massey Government to show that it has at heart the true interests of New Zealand, also of the Island dependencies if ;it would : embark even on a modest scheme of shipbuilding, if only to trade between New,| Zealand, the Cook Islands. Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, eta Wooden vessels, with auxiliary engines, all made in New Zealand, would :be sufficient. It is only \\ by doing something like this 'that "still more; production ''becomes a fact, and i moreover does much to make the natives more content ; with their trade. The ! possibilities of these ' islands are very great. ■ l His \ Excellency; ; the • Governor, in the Hs&aud of January 12, says the one thine which is hampering every, industry is the shortage of carrying power. " The New Zealand Government should quickly decide whether it intends to help world settlement or not. :';s ,- r ' : T.G.