TRADE WITH ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21144, 30 March 1932, Page 10

TRADE WITH ISLANDS.

ANOTHER LINK BROKEN. MAUI POMARE'S ITINERARY. NO CALL AT AUCKLAND. PROTESTS BY MERCHANTS. Both Auckland and Dunedin aro to be omitted from the itinerary of the Government motor-vessel Maui Pomare as ports of call in New Zealand as from April 1, and in futuro calls will be made at Lyttclton and Wellington only. This, it is officially announced in a Press Association message from Wellington, will enable a more frequent service to bo carried out between Niuo and and Samoa and the Dominion, which will be of considerable assistance to the banana industry of those islands and will eliminate the present long and unprofitable run on tho New Zealand coast to tho four main ports. It will also give an equitable distribution of fruit into both the North and South Islands. The decision is regarded in the city as another serious blow to Auckland s trade with the Islands —a trade which now seems in danger of disappearing. Auckland business men point out that 50 years ago the Island trade was to all intents and purposes Auckland's monopoly. Now that trade has decreased appreciably and is rapidly being captured by Australian and other outside interests. Aucklanders are not so much concerned about the fruit trade from the Islands, as even with the less frequent service there are still ample facilities for the shipment of fruit. But they are concerned with tho export trade, which for years was considered tho city's birthright—a legacy from tho days when the old trading schooners used to ply regularly between Auckland and Suva and tho surrounding islands, days of good freights and good profits as well as days of romance. Only One Vessel Left.

The Maui Pomare is not to be withdrawn from th.3 Island trade, but the omission of Auckland as a port of call is almost as serious. The position now is that the vessel will be bringing Island produce to New Zealand but, according to present indications, taking very little back in return. The move is therefore likely to have its effect f>n the Dominion's balance of trade.

Many of tha Auckland firms trading regularly with the Islands have branches in the South, but their Island activities are centred in Auckland. Auckland has a fairly considerable meal trade with .the Islands, and altogether about 75 per cent, of the export trade consists of Auckland manufactures. The disappearance of the Maui Pomare from the Waitemata will mean that these firms will have to rely on one vessel, the Waipahi, to carry their goods, or, to gain the services of a second, will have to tranship their goods to Wellington. This means added cost at a time when the exigencies of competitive trade have rendered imperative the placing of a restraining hand on overhead expenses. It also means that the entire Niue Island trade will be lost. Lucrative Trade Dwindles.

There is no doubt that the new move will be exceedingly unpopular in fcfce Islands. A few weeks ago strong protests were heard from Suva over the withdrawal of the Tofua, and this latest blow at trade between New Zealand and Samoa is also certain to give rise to much criticism. Suva residents state unhesitatingly that their trade is being redirected to Australia, even though Australia resolutely refuses to import Island fruit.

In tho words of one Auckland business, man, a trade which has taken 40 years to build up is on the way to being ruined. In 1900, the Alameda used to leave Auckland for Samoa, Honolulu and San Francisco, the Taviuni for Fiji, the Hauroto for the Friendly Islands, Samoa, Fiji, and Sydney, and the Ovalau for Rarotonga and Tahiti, all. within three weeks. Ten yeans later, thrco ships the Atua., Tofua and Talune, were regularly engaged in tho Fiji, Tonga and Samoa run, while the Navua, in conjunction with the mail steamers, carried on a regular service with the Cook Islands. Now, apart from ths mail steamers, which serve Australian and American interests as well as those of New Zealand, there is only one steamer to !sccp alivo Auckland's Island trade. Business Firms Concerned. Action is already being taken by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and interested merchants to persuade tho Government to reconsider its decision. '"The Government has taken such precipitate action that the financial position of firms in the Islands is likely to be endangered," one merchant said yesterday.. "There has never before been the slightest suggestion that the Maui Pomare should omit Auckland as a port of call, and doubtless Island firms have been ordering ahead confident that their orders could be shipped from Auckland by the Maui Pomare. They may find themselves in a very awkward situation." It is pointed out that Auckland lias already lost a most lucrative trade with Norfolk Island. The Maui Fomare was employed in this run from July, 1923, to March, 1930, and i(, became a most profitable undertaking. Tourists were travelling to Norfolk Island from New Zealand, providing trade in the island, and the poods employed in this trade wore almost, exclusively Auckland manufactures. This trade was thrown over, ostensibly in order to cater for Dunedin's fruit requirements and provide a better service to Samoa. The entire trade had been captured bv Australia. "Trade Being Thrown Away." Tho Government has stated that the Maui Pomare's new schedule will assist the banana industry by eliminating the long run between the four main ports. An Auckland exporter furnished a very convincing reply to this argument. Even if Auckland were omitted as a port of discharge, he said, there was no reason why it. should b e omitted as a loading port. The distance from Wellington direct to Nine, the Maui Pomare's fust port of call in the Islands, was 1610 miles; from Auckland to Niue direct it was 1544 miles, and from Wellington wharf to Auckland wharf 588 miles. Consequently the Maui Pomade could leave Wellington, call at Auckland for a few hours to pick up export cargo nnd then go on to Niue with the addition of only 322 miles to the total voyage—a matter of days' steaming time all told. "Auckland's Island trade is being thrown awav for a matter of days' steaming time." he said. ' This is the very essence of false economy. Indeed, it is not economy at all-" There is another very important aspect. The tourist traffic to the Islands has been very largely lost, and this is another very sore point In Suva. Indeed, there are soma Auckland merchants who say that (he Government's ill advised actions in the past have weakened tho bonds between New Zealand and tho South Sea Islands.