TRADE WITH THE ISLANDS

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16032, 24 January 1920, Page 5

TRADE WITH THE ISLANDS

NEW ZEALAND’S OPPORTUNITIES. EFFECT OP AUSTRALIAN STRIKE. Import conditions in the South Sea Islands are being very seriously affected by the continuance of the Australian maritime strike. According to a recent arrival from Samoa even our own possession finds it 'both more profitable and more satisfactory to trade with Sydney than to place its business in Auckland. In Apia and in the Fiji and Tongan groups business firms seem to have a general complaint against New Zealand firms, who, it is declared, generally fail to meet Island customers on as lenient conditions as Australian houses do. Sydney merchants, it is asserted, cater much better for the Island trade, despatch their representatives much more frequently, and allow them a much freer hand. Through the strike, however, Australian supplies have been absolutely cut off, and stocks of such staple imports as flour, sharps, and x’ice are perilously near exhaustion. Bakers are turning in desperation to the Dominion, and urgently cabling for shipments by the Navua, though they are doubtful whether stocks here are sufficient to enable their orders to be fulfilled. Sharps, an important item of Hindu diet in Fiji, are about sold out, while the rice market is bare, and the local crop is yet young in the fields. New Zealand tinned meats are always preferred to Australian, and of them thei’e is no shortage, but in Suva at present, dependent on the Commonwealth for its liquid refreshments, there is a virtual depletion of beer stocks which the many thirsty souls there view with great apprehension.

The whole trade conditions of the Islands at present, however, afford New Zealand an excellent opportunity of bidding against her rival neighbour for a good market. A week ago Fiji merchants anticipated a settlemest of the strike, and an immediate resumption of Australian trade, but, on receipt of contrary advice, by cable they hustled to get into touch with Auckland by the outgoing mail for much needed replenishments. If these can be supplied here the Navua should be carrying a very heavy outward cargo, and, in the opinion of many Island traders, this temporary diversion of trade holds good prospects in many lines other than grain of being made permanent.