NEW ZEALAND'S INTERESTS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1025, 14 January 1911, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND'S INTERESTS.

,• : — ; TRADE WITH THE ISLANDS. ■ (By Telegraph.—Press AssoclatloaJ Auckland, January 13. The movement for the removal of tha office of.. High Commissioner of the AVestem .Paciiic from to. Sydney* -which has been set on foot in Australia, was the subject of a discussion at tlna afternoon's meeting .of tho council of the Chamber of Commerce. • -. : The president (Mr. J. H. Gunson). said the proposal was fraught with considerable danger to the interests ofNew Zealand, as it might nieau tho beginning of a movement which would ultimately lead'to tlio alienation of, the present trade 'wirlv the Islands frrim New Zealand, and- their absorption by Australia. Tho Australian tariff at.the present time operated against New Zealand, and if the, proposal was carried in to effect there was the danger that the Islands would either becomo part of Australia or bo formed into a separate State of the Commonwealth, to the probable exclusion of, tho present New Zea-land-trade.- Ho moved: • "That this chamber views with concern the movement now set on foot in the Commonwealth of Australia for the removal of the Hicch Commissioner of the Western 'l'acitlc froni Suva to Sydney, and considers that such removal may be projudicial to tho interests of New Zealand as regards tho Fiji Group, and all the other Islands, British possessions, or under British protection to tho northeast and south of the said Fiji group; and that the New Zealand Government he respectfully'asked to use all constitutional means at their command to prevent the passing of tho control of tha above island into any other State or Power." . Mr. Graves Aicken, in seconding the motion, urged that immediate actionshould be taken. Ho was surprised that- more notico had not been taken of tlio matter in New Zealand, as the project was- undoubtedly likely to bo pre*. judicial to our interests. Mr. T.;'Peacock said Suva was the most central position, and therefore tho best jilaco for the High Commissioner to reside in. The president said lie was convinced that the '.proposal. was highly inimical to the-interests of. New Zealand. . Australia would not improbably desire to obtain control of the Islands in the same way . that she now had control of Tas-> mania.. . Mr. Upton: I think the motion is t<xi pugnacious altogether. The motion was carried, Mr, Upton alone dissenticn- '