TRADE WITH ISLANDS

Southland Times, Issue 20010, 26 October 1926, Page 8

TRADE WITH ISLANDS

AUSTRALIA’S GROWING-LOSS. PROBLEMS OF SHIPPING. SUGGESTED SERVICE TO RAST. Sydney, October 1. Not so long ago the trade of Sydney with the South Sea Islands, especially in copra, was considerable, but in recent years, through various reasons, the amount transhipped here for foreign countries has gradually dwindled. The extent to which Australia is losing the hold on this trade is shown clearly in a memorandum to the Federated Public Accounts Committee, which is inquiring into Island shippiner facilities, by the Minister for Home and Territories, Sir William Glasgow. Figures relating to the mandated territory of New Guinea given in the memorandum show that copra exported to or through Australia in 1922-23 amounted to 20,374 tons, but that in 1924-25 the amount had fallen to 10,872 tons, and in the first half of 1925-26 to 7759 tons. The amount of copra exported to other countries in 1922-23 was 12,274 tons. At the end of 1924-25, this amounted to 28,279 tons, and in the first half of 1925-26 to 13,988 tons. Speaking of the Islands in the memorandum the Minister says: “Trade considerations do not justify the continuance of a service to the New Hebrides, but the Prime Minister’s Department, which is in close touch with affairs there, has advised my department from time to time that other considerations render mail and chipping connection desirable. The service to Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands raises the question of passenger, rather than cargo, accommodation and will be dealt with separately. It is desirable to consider the trade prospects in regard to Papua, the mandated territory and the Solomons. “It is important to consider the export trade of these territories. As long as there is a regular service from Australia to the territories, that service will carry the trade from Australia, but the important point to consider from the aspect of the export trade is that tramp steamers offering low freights call at ports where copra is available for shipment. Thus the greater portion of the copra produced in the mandated territory is shipped overseas, and Papua is looking for opportunities of taking similar action. The export tratje of Papua is not yet sufficiently large to attract regular tramps, but we can be sure that the producers of Papua will be on the lookout for the cheapest freights to the European markets for their copra, and when the quantities available are sufficient the facilities doubtless will be forthcoming. “Is the extension of the services to the East the solution of the difficulty? Burns, Philp and Company, Ltd., already conduct a service between Melbourne and Singapore and call at Darwin under contract to the Commonwealth. There is a fair quantity of cargo for Darwin, but little coming back. The extension of the services through Papua and the mandated territory to Eastern ports might have some, or all, of the following effects: (a) Increased facilities for the employment of coloured crews; (b) the provision of an outlet to the East,’ for which the territories have frequently pressed; (c) the provision of additional facilities for trade with the East and Australia generally. It was for reasons such as these that those concerned thought it desirable to see what tenders would be received for the service to the East, with Port Moresby and Rabaul as ports of call.”