THE ISLAND TRADE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13428, 10 July 1914, Page II

THE ISLAND TRADE.

AUCKLAND'S ANXIETY. j (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, this day. Great dissatisfaction is being shown by those Auckland merchants engaged m trade with the Friendly Islands and Fiji and Samoa With the. present state of the isteamer ' service, and particularly with that portion of it which affects the | Auckland and Tongan trade. At a-meet-ing of those interested m the matter, held- yesterday, Mr Bart Kent, president of the Chamber, said that jthe Union Steamship Company's fortnightly service, which was discontinued a few months ago, had given satisfaction. The chanra to a very poor monthly service which *uad been made, however, had caused great inconvenience and loss -to tiraders/l&t'h m Aiickfend and m Tonga. Trade which should come to Auckland was being diverted to Sydney. . The time, therefore, had now arrived when the Union Steamship Company should be asked to reoonsider the position, and to put on a small steamer to ply fortnightly between Auckland and Tonga. All. those present at the meeting were Unanimous m their opinion that trade with Tonga, was being diverted to Sydney. The longer they waited^ the less chance there would be Of regaining the lost trade. Competition with the new German shipping lines would also have to be considered. Mr Bart Kent finally agreed that the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce , would fully discuss H-he position,. ..arid urge> th© Unioh Steamship Company to re-establish i,he old service, pr else to give them a small steamer specially for this, trade. The possibility ,of approaching the Government on the subject would also be considered.