TRADE WITH THE ISLANDS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20288, 22 December 1927, Page 3

TRADE WITH THE ISLANDS

MR NOSWORTHY’S STATEMENT. NEGLECT OF OTAGO INTERESTS. NORFOLK ISLAND SETTLERS. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO NON-TAXPAYERS. At the Lyttelton Harbour Board’s jubilee dinner on Saturday night, the Hon Mr Nosworthy, Minister of External Afiairs touched briefly on the question of steamer communication between the islands and the ports of Lyttelton and Dunedin. Lyttelton, he said, would he cut out of none ot the trips of the Maui Pomare, which would give Canterbury an opportunity of developing trade with the islands. . From the Minister’s remarks it is evident that the request of Otago that the port of Dunedin should receive more consideration in the matter, will not be given effect to. tit Tier -d Interviewed on the position, JMr W» -B, Steel, secretary of th e Expansion League, said: “It is apparent to me from the Minister’s statement that the port of Dunedin need not look for the Maui Pomare oftener than five times a year, as already promised. I regret the position exceedingly. Those of us who have been in the agitation from the time when General Sir George Richardson requested onr aid in securing a vessel, with which to open out trade between the mandated territory and the South Island are only 100 well aware that obstacles, many and grievous, were being placed in the way of Dunedin being a port of call. “ Some months ago Mr J. D. Gray, of the Department of External Affairs, came to Dunedin with a map on which the proposed steamer sailing route was marked, which showed Lyttelton as the only port for the South Island, and .we were assured that it would be impossible to make the 11 trips per annum contemplated if Dunedin were included. This was vigorously contested by Dunedin representatives who claimed that the vessel was not procured to supply Auckland with fruit, as that port has all the steamers connected with the islands calling there. The reason given for the inclusion of Auckland was that the department’s stores were there, and it was essential for the passenger service, especially of officials from and to the islands, that Auckland should be a port of call. On this basis evidence was given before the Parliamentary Commission, which, in its report, recommended four visits to Dunedin during the fruit season. To this, objection was taken, and still more vigorous representation was made to the Ministry, with the result that we are to be graciously allowed to see our own steamer fiv© times a year, Lyttelton 10 times, Wellington 10 times, and Auckland 20 times, and the period of overhaul. . “We felt sure there was something undisclosed about this sailing arrangement, and now we have found the ‘ nigfer in the woodpile.’ The late Lord alisbury advised people, when considering foreign problems, to study large maps, and in this case it will elucidate the peculiar reasoning of those responsible if readers will look at a map of the South Pacific. The islands which the new steamer was especially built to serve lie N.N.E. of Now Zealand, but ther© is an island belonging to Australia —Norfolk Island —which lies N.N.W., two days and a-half steam from Auckland, and it is because the Maui Pomare must call at this island that Otago and Southland are to be left out. Had a vigorous agitation not been inaugurated and maintained we would never have seen the steamer. Why? We are gravely informed that there are something like 100 New Zealanders on Norfolk Island, cultivating and trading there, and that we cannot leave them in the lurch. And, again we say, why? Do these erstwhile New Zealanders —who are now Australians—pay taxes to the Dominion? If the department cannot leave 100 self-exiled New Zealanders in the lurch, what about the 214,000 odd who live south of th© Waitaki, and who win be taxed to make up any deficiency? “ According to the department the steamer carried last year £3400 of cargo from Auckland to Norfolk Island, and this service pays, and they want it to help to make the steamer pay. .Where are the enterprising Aucklanders we hear so much about if there is a payable service? Have they no steamer of the Northern Company’s fleet to take up a dividend-making cruise? And, above all, why should the New Zealand Government undertake commercial work for Australia? Are w e endeavouring to filch territory by a system of peaceful penetration? . “ Two nights and a day are all the time extra needed to make a call every month at Dunedin, where inward and out. ward freight much larger than Norfolk Island can be secured, and w e decline to be sacrificed for this Auckland interest. If the Norfolk Island service is left to those whose duty it is to provide it, not 'mly Dunedin, but th e Bluff, could be served to the lasting and ever-increasing benefit of the Dominion and its dependencies.”

AFFORESTATION COMPANIES.

TO THE EDITOR. Sin, —Your leading article tin’s morning concludes with a statement that the allegation made at yesterday's meeting of the Stock Exchange is “ distinctly unfair ” and ‘‘doubly unjust.” Will you permit mo to point out that there was ono error and also one omission from your report of my remarks? The first is that I did not say that Iho com panics had issued bonds for over £2,000,000. 1 said specifically that one company had issued bonds to the amount stated. _ I further enumerated some of the headings under which heavy expenditure was being incurred in this _ company. Those were the large salaries being drawn bv the leading promoters, the cost of offices with staffs being maintained in all centres, the moncv that is spent on advertising, tho cost of printed propaganda on an extensive scale, and the commissions that aro payable on applications for bonds. All those you omitted from your report. There are other minor outgoings, but ns I did not mention those I shall not now refer to them.

i further referred to the expenditure on roads and bridges. Your leading article is based on, and refers to, tho latter two items only and omits any reference to tho former which, of course, are the ones that arc important.

Tho company has, at present, little if aiiv source of revenue. All the above outgoings must necessarily be met out of capital, and so deplete the money available for tree planting.

Most of the afforestation companies issue balance sheets. Shareholders know how (he funds are being disbursed. In these throe is no reason for anything but favourable comment, and no -1 sweeping condemnations ” of these were made. — I nm, etc., K. 11. Smith. Dunedin, December ?.!. [A 3 we understand if. afforestation companies in general were the subject; of criticism in' the discu--ion at the Stock Exchange ineeinur. Ihe view cxmm-'MI in our leading columns was that it, was unfair that, a vague allegation should 1; e made against thc.-e companies, and that it was doiiblv unjust if the allegation were made undiscriminately. That view is not affected by what Mr Smith writes.— Ed. O.D.T.] '