ISLAND TRADE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160711, 26 July 1920, Page 2

ISLAND TRADE.

ITS POSSIBILITIES. NEW ZEALAND’S OPPOETtJNITT. New Zealand’s trade, and its possible developments in the South Sea Islands was the subject of an important report submitted to Parliament by the commission of business men which accompanied the members of Parliament on its recent tour. TEA.DE WITH FIJI. After discussing the production of sugar in Fiji, the Commission points out that New Zealand last year bought Fijian produce to the value of £882,574 and sent goods to the value of £151,663 in return. Australia..while buying Fijian produce to th© extent of only £110,444, sold to the Fijians goods to the value of £536,974. “It is unfortunate that such a one-sided state of affairs exists,” says the report, “and one naturally looks for reasons. In the first place, Australia, having tropical territory of her own. and being in more direct touch with tropical countries and islands, has naturally laid herself out to cater for this trade, and her merchants carry large and varied stocks to suit tropical requirements. Also, they push the business with more energy and determination than the merchants of New Zealand, and. if the evidence laid before us is true, they are satisfied with smaller profits. As far as re-export in cotton goods of all descriptions is concerned, there is no rason why New Zealand’s share of the Fijian business should not be at least equal to that of Australia. We understand that the freights from Great Britain to New Zealand are no greater than to Sydney, harbour charges in New Zealand are less, the distance between Auckland and Fiji is shorter by one-third, and the freight is slightly cheaper. It will be seen that New Zealand merchants could do much more of the trade in Fiji than they are doing if they set their minds seriously to the task. A splendid market is at their very doors. Fijian merchants and traders ■generally are favourably disposed towards New Zealand; some of them, indeed, are anxious to have a closer relationship.” A LOST TRADE. Turning to Tonga, the Commission states that New Zealand used to have first place in the trade of' the group. Australia has now a lead. The Governor of Tonga is anxious to have restored the regular pre-war steamer connection with Auckland. The ships used to carry copra, oranges, bananas, and tomatoes, and it was considered an ordinary shipment of 22,000 packages of fruit went away on one steamer. Oranges now rot, under the trees, and banana© are not grown on the' old scale. But the production of frnit in the group could be pestered quickly if the market were made available. “If the Government could arrange for a better and more frequent direct service between the group and, say Samoa, no doubt trade would greatly improve,” says the report. “In all probability this service would not at first pay its way, but it most certainly would in time, especially if copra were lifted for transhipment at Auckland. Wc are aware that it wouljJ be difficult to arrange with a public company for such a service; it is a question for consideration, therefore. whether it would not be advisable for the Nesv Zealand Government to purchase or bhild a steamer or steamers for the trade when a suitable opportunity offers." POSSIBILITIES IN SAMOA. The report states that the development of Western Samoa is dependent upon the solution of the labour problems. It declares emphatically in favour of the Vac of imported labour, since the Samoans are not willing to work as employees. Tire islands are capable of enormous development, and it is estimated that 86,000 acres of land could be purchase! by white settlers and that tho natives would then possess more land than they could handle. The Commission does not believe that the settlement of returned soldiers from New Zealand, - and on this land, would be a good proposition. Hie plantations can be more cheaply developed, per acre, in large holdings than in small oiies. “There is great room for future development in all classes of tropical products,” states the report m reference to Samoa. “Copra, cocoa, coffee, rubber, kapoc, pineapples, castor-oil, seeds, sago, nutmeg, pepper, ginger, cloves, vanilla, arrowroot, sisal, might all be grown with advantage.” COOK ISLANDS. The report deals in detail with tho trade of the Cook Islands. It suggests that owing to harbour and shipping difficulties the islands, with the exception of. Earatonga, had better concentrate on the production of non-perish-able articles such as copra, coffee, cocoa, and rubber. The fruit trade with Earatonga requires improved shipping facilities. The Commission does not think that the natives have been exploited by the traders, and it believes that a better understanding between the parties is possible. The purchase of an auxiliary schooner by the Government for work among the-islands is suggested. The Commission emphasises the need for a greater effort on the part of New Zealand traders, and makes various minor recommendations.