TRADE IN PACIFIC

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1932, Page 12

TRADE IN PACIFIC

GERMAN SHIPS’ INROADS. AUSTRALIAN PROTESTS. Australian residents and traders in New Guinea and 'the Solomon .Islands are perturbed regarding the inroads into trade made by German ships of the Norddeutscher-Lloyd Line from the East. Representations have been made to the Commonwealth Government, and to the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, that the ships are not only creating unfair competition with British interests, but have increased the menace of the spread of disease among the natives. Early action is expected. During the last two years the - steamer Bremerhaven has made periodic calls at New Guinea ports from Hongkong, bringing German and Eastern goods and taking away copra, according to statements . made in shipping circles, says the Sydney Morning Herald. The chief cause of complaint, it is pointed out, is that, not content with loading copra at Rabaul, the main despatching point for overseas, she has visited every outport. No copra-loading point has been too small for her attention, and she thus makes serious inroads into the trade of the inter-island steamers provided for the convenience of residents of the territory.

To date, shipping men point out, the German service has been irregular. It is now announced, however, that the steamer Friderun, of the same line, has been commissioned for the trade, and will, with the Bremerhaven, maintain a regular six-weekly service between the Far East, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.,

“Although we have to pay Australian rates of wages, and observe Australian Navigation Act conditions, carry native crews on ‘starvation wages,’ we are confident of being able to meet the competition,” said one prominent shipping man with island interests. “The chief menace, is disease. Without proper supervision they are allowed to enter the islands, fresh from the hotbeds of disease in the East. Their crews mix with the natives, 'and there is always the possibility of an outbreak of an epidemic which will sweep the islands from end to end. I have seen an epidemic of measles wipe out 40. per cent, of the inhabitants of islands on which it has occurred.”

The shipping man also expressed the opinion that the activities of German ships had political significance. “They want the mandate placed in their hands,” he said.

In addition to the menace of disease, those who have made representations to the Government have put forward many arguments in favour of intervention. Australian shipping and commercial firms, they say, have undertaken heavy obligations in developing both New Guinea and the Solomons, and have created avenues for the distribution of Australian goods in the territories. The Germans have no obligations, and push the sale of German and Eastern goods. The Commonwealth Government, it is further pointed out, pays a large sum annually by way of shipping subsidies in order to hold the Pacific trade for Australia, and has undertaken heavy obligations in the administration of New Guinea. Japan, it is asserted, closely protects Japanese shipping and trading interests in her mandate of the Caroline and Marshall Islands, and will not allow foreign lines to penetrate into the groups. Moreover, it is stated, the German Administration of New Guinea before the war placed all possible obstacles in the way of Australian interests in order to keep New. Guinea as a close preserve for Germany.