AUSTRALIAN ISLAND TRADE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 September 1921, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN ISLAND TRADE.

HOW IT VANISHED. SYDNEY, July -!. \ it‘\\ wi*fks a>*n a (usiotio i;,| 111 Sydney was asked Die value t.? A list liiliii «»l tin* UiU-iiit- Maud prior to Die imposition ol the many irk.oiiul restrictions of the past lew yours. |!is (stimate was fbur million pounds. A skid its present worth, lie shrugged hi-, shoulders. "It is so insignificant'' he remarked "that 1 have- not hot: (;•-' to assess it." This may he exaggeration to prove a lac;, hut il i> suhstniiii,illy correct. The main reason is the - (‘Useless obstacles that have been ..heed in the way of the trade. During ! the war the re-expmt from Sydney mi -pi tt which was brought to Sydney j 1,011, the islands was prohibited. except , hv a special permission. ’I he ualura,) was that the hulk of it ceased to, come here, and was exporte I oversea j di, ect 1 1 om the islands. How ever, h. j ciise of the lack of direct shipping | facilities a certain amount did eon-' tinim fo come here, and then the liar- ] hour Trust stepped in. ( opra was inIhiniumhle and must have special hale--1i,,.,. The liiitis.li Hoard of Trade, the New South Wales Navigation Department, and the insurance companies protested in vain that it was no more in Hummable than any ’other products. Rut the Trust had made up its mind. < opra must not remain oil the wharves. It must he stored in hulks or bonds. The fact that this meant immediate discharge on arrival, and endless cartage or lightenin'- and additional expenses, through unnecessary storage and insurance, made no impression on t’-e Trust* Rut now that the added costs, amounting with Die Height to l„ tween til and C 5 a ton. have pretty „ ell killed the trade, and Hums. Philip and Co., and -Morris 1 ledstfolu, the two greatest island linns, have established their own transhipment depots in the islands, the Trust has commenced so iclent. During the pas, V.eek it has agreed to allow emergency storage on wharves for 21 hours. Meanwhile we have not only lost the big transhipment and export trade, lm! ~,(• have lost the friendship ol ninny i-Uml settlers who with justice bitterly resent the harrassiug restrict ions. Much of the trade has gone to San Eiancisco, where il is reported receiving the greatest possible encouragement. _______