TONGA AND COMMONWEALTH

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9965, 8 May 1918, Page 6

TONGA AND COMMONWEALTH

TRADE WITH LATTER FAVOURED

United Pro® Association—Oopyrffiht . SYDNEY, May 7. Th© Premier of Tonga, who is visiting Sydney, in an interview, said that New Zealand had taken the trade of Tonga from Australia, but Tonga preferred to trade with the Commonwealth. Although he made Uq announcement, he gave the impression that the object of his visit was to secure Commonwealth aid in tho revival of trade between Tonga and ■ Australia. ;■

The Premier said it was partly owing te the proximity of New Zealand and partly tb the laxity or indifference of Australia that !N&w Zealand had been able to secure Tongan trade. The indifference of Australia had forced the Tongan Government to subsidies the Union Steamship Company hv granting it a free harbour, pilotage, and wharfage to the extent of £4OOO per annum. Tonga a preference for trade with Australia was due to the fact that because there was no means in New Zealand of manufacturing oil from the copra, which is Tonga’s largest export, whereas such means for the manufacture of oil existed in Australia. Last yeaf Tonga was forced to send 7000 tons of copra to America; this year he anticipates that 15,000 ton s would go there. These facts spoke for themselves. He asked. ‘.‘Why does Australia ignore ns? We would rather trade with her x than any other conn try."