AUCKLAND-FIJI TRADE

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 209, 28 May 1908, Page 4

AUCKLAND-FIJI TRADE

I l (BY; TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT).-, iv- Auckland, May,27. ' The cablegram published tho; other daylan- ' nouncing that ■■ the Fijian Government-. wa> calling for; tenders, for a subsidised/steamer service Fiji and Melbourne/vas submitted 'to several .Auckland merchants yes-', terday to ascertain their opinions to, how far that- 'service might affect ■ Auckland trade. One .well-known merchant, who has constant trade relations with Fiji, said the establishment-of a fast service to Melbourno. wouldniilitato. against - Auckland, trade,;,, but it 'would/not doso'v/ere there a fast service; betweoiV : ''Auckland.,and; Suva. v At the-.pre-sent time ' fruit was. landed Sometimes in a, state !qhly^fit;f6^•;.thb ; Company admitted. no liability, and; there, was -frequently loss . falling :bn, shippers'aridimporters*;! .-He• went,"on/,to. say:i .Herb..in, one shipment;.alone, there -is a vloss, of over- ■ £50 ;on ' fruit-:': that arrived :in practically ','a rotten' condition.. What we.;want -is- la;'good' service -for- fruit,'-not a .service, carrying: sugar and. Copra;,' and fruit. together, ; because, tho, fruit won!t stand it. .. .The Union Company claims'.ithat tho of " tho run from ! 'Fiji -to Auckland- is',four.'!days,",;but taking' tho ' year • round wo '. say / it ''. averages' four '; arid •a -. half to, five days. |Fruit., could ..stand that::time. all right; for . .that.'' .matter!;!. wero;' !■; it loaded - '-from i .oobl stores at* tlie; port of- departure - into' cool chambers- : '!ori-' shipboard;.'butV .at'- thel island.ports a'steamer inny bo expected,;to-! day; vand, may :arrive!!to ; mbrrow; or itho 'day! after,-V and-, 'the!'..'cons,igriees , havo• -the!' fruit; ;down on ,tho- wharf in 'good.time,'and there; it may remain for a/day or a'\day and ai half in a broiling sun. /A fast Melbourjio; ser,yico would \tako, longer-.on the . voyage; than our own servieo ' perhaps, but the! stealers,would be required to Specially cater! for the- fruit, trade,; and Awith' suclr - boats' and with. the bigger .. markets ;,of ; Melbourne,; .of course-' trade; connections''are apt' to slip ! away • from Auckland; because ' where - Fiji's sells -mostf it' will/buy 'imost: ,;<Perhiipsi'th'e J Union ; Company may be induced to 'catori for the''Auckland tfade'-iii like manner.''. . ,'J.