EXPORTS TO ISLANDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21533, 3 July 1933, Page 5

EXPORTS TO ISLANDS

LOCAL TRADE DECLINES

INCREASED SYDNEY SHARE CURTAILMENT OF SHIPPING The manner in which Auckland's export, trade with the Pacific Islands has been affected by the curtailment of shipping services is dealt with in a statement issued on Saturday by Dr. l'l. P. Neale, secretary to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. "Shipments to the Pacific Islands during the past few years, when a comparison is made, reveal how far regular services determine the direction of trade, and how far southern ports have forged ahead in this business at the expense of Auckland," proceeds the statement. "Wellington has maintained her footing ever the last

six years in values, representing an actual increase in the physical volume of trade, while Auckland's exports have been halved.

"Progressive curtailments of the shipping services from Auckland to the islands have dug into an export trade which Auckland, b.v long experience as well as by geographical position, had come to regard as peculiarly her own. Much of the trade New Zealand formerly enjoyed has passed to Sydney, whoso outward services to the islands have not been curtailed as have those

from Auckland " Details of the Decline The following tablo shows the position of the trade mentioned in 1927 and 1932:

Total for Auckland Wellington N.Z. 1927 . . £411,323 £39.775 £491.601 1032 . . 213,093 39,'287 266.725

The statement points out that the figures did not includo exports to the Cook Islands, which were New Zealand territory. Examples ol the decline of tho exports from Auckland were as follows:—Hawaii, £126.584 in 1927 to £33,775 in 1932; Fiji, £113,312 to £85,637; Western Samoa, £74,794 to £36,130; Tonga, £66,228 to £26,440; other foreign islands, £5757 to £3380; Tahiti, £1955 to £1939. The only increase as far as Auckland was concerned was in respect of other British islands, the trade being £22,693 in value in 1927 and £25,792 in 1932.

In the period involved, the tiude from Wellington had increased to I'iji, Western Samoa, Tonga ami foreign possessions, with the exception of Hawaii. There had been declines in the eases of Tahiti and British islands other than those specified. Withdrawal of Vessels When the Government a few years ago placed the Maui Pomare in the island trade, the statement continues, it found that the necessity to call at Niuo involved the elimination of the service previously carried out to Norfolk Island, and Auckland lost its exports to Norfolk. Later, the BurnsPhil p Company placed the Morinda in the Norfolk Island trade, but the vessel was withdrawn a few months ago, the return cargoes to Auckland vanishing because the New Zealand Government placed an embargo 011 fruit from Australia, which included Norfolk Island politically. So long as the embargo applied, the Norfolk Island trade was gone.

Another blow was struck at Auckland's outward trade when the Government decided about 18 months ago to eliminate Auckland from the Maui Pomare's itinerary. The classes of business most adversely affected were general merchandise, canned meatw. milk products and case timber. Meanwhile, the competition of the Maui Pomare rendered the running of the Union Company's vessel Tofua unprofitable. It was replaced by the cargo vessel Waipahi, which had now been withdrawn owing to insufficient cargoes offering.