GERMAN TRADE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3571, 4 October 1916, Page 5

GERMAN TRADE.

IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC

AUSTRALIAN INTER-STATE CO3 ■ MISSION OF INQUIRY. '

(Per "Press. Association—Copyright)

(Received October 4, 9.10 a.m.)

SYDNEY, October 4. Au Inter-State Commission has commenced an inquiry on the' question of British and Australian trade in the South Pacific Islands. Thos Chief Commissioner explained that the inquiry was the result of a Government request to investigate the copra trade with Australia, and report whether it was desirable that special action should be taken with a view to increasing the Australian and British control of such trade. He read a cable ir-om the Secretary of State for the Colonies, informing" the Commonwealth Government that the New Zealand Government had made representations to the Home Government as to probable difficulties in the way of successful, competition after the war with-the leading' German firm—the '■ Deutsche Han.dok \ahd \ Plantain Gesellschaft— doing business in the South Pacific. The: polity 'of the Commonwealth > was to ihcreaae the control "of Australian find: British • copra and other trades in the South Pacific which previously were in German hands. This; would be equally achieved whether, trade came through the Commonwealth or by any other part of the Empire. New Zealand _ had initiated 1 certain inquiries regarding the copra.trade.in the Tongan group, and it had. been arranged between the Governments concerned that the Commonwealth should enjoy the/ co-operation both of the New Zealand Government and of the High "Commissioner in th« Western Pacific. After reviewing the administration of the various islands, he said the Commission was not concerned with any question of readjustment and administration, which could only he undertaken by,the Imperial Government in the settlement of terms of peace. It was for the Commission to consider, all the British Island territory.as involved in relation to the whole question of British and German trade. An important portion of the inquiry would be concerned with shipping, bankjug, postal, telegraphic, and communication, and, possibly to a limited extent, with the interchange of labour between the islands. Mr Meek, managing director of l<ever Broth*™, gaye X evidence 'of the advantages which German shipping companies had in the way of copra freights prior to the war,' largely due to Government subsidies. The shipping of copra to Sydney from Tonga, via Auckland, had increased the freight by 15a per ton, but he thought the Sydney-Tonga line would be -reestablished after the. war. There was great 'scope for the devolopWrrtf of other island products- besides copra, but the trouble was to got sufficient labour, as the natives only worked to ''keep themselves. Indian labour had been mentioned, and the Fijian Government was negotiating with the Homo Government in the hope of establishing continuous. Indian immigration. Speaking generally on the, islands,.:^itho.-witnesß tn'piign'tiJiatr^ivyit development was not posSblo without introduced labour.