PACIFIC ISLANDS TRADE
DRIFTING FROIV! DOT.-IUviCN (: OVERNM!•’.XT AUTIGN URGED IX fab i.i ament. AN INTER ESTING- DISCUS SION• An inten-.sring discn.-sicu on trade with tlio I'.icllic ii-lnads took place in tho Houxo -of Representatives yesterday following on ihe presentation to the lions-' tiv, Mr C. A.. WilidHson (Kgmonl) of a report ’ ci I lie Industries Committee of Ui» Kou.sO on trade v,iil; rhu isln;i< i . Ton eummitire. Hated its report that it laid iii'|Uii':;d into roe question of trade with the iVuOc i.-naiu!;-;, i *n similarly tin- Fijh;.n, Samoan an<i ow* GiLups. Tho fe;t.rr.M««m . ivvoUnniJ wan limited, inconclusive in cnaructer bun : there were many "uaiciuions that the resources of tne Lianas were cajiablo of considerable extension, especially in regal'd to too fruit and copra industries, the production ot fruit in particular being capaolo of almost unlimited dcveh-'pmcn'b, winch would secure* for the Dominion a plentiful and cheap supply. it was further shown tuat owing to (no shortage and irregularity of snipping ana the high freights ruling the import and export trade had been considerably restricted. COMM ITTEE’ S 11 ECOMMENDATION. Tho committee recommended to tho favourable consideration of tho Got eminent; — ~ (1) That the Government should tako measures to bring about an improved and regular steamer service between the various islands and tho Dominion. . . , (:>) That an exhaustive inquiry bo made by a competent business man, who should bo engaged to visit the principal islands and report generally upon tho whole question <-"f the picsont and future possibilities of trade. (:{) That investigation!! sliomd he made regarding the possible existence of phosphates and guano deposits. TRADE DRIFTING FROM NEW /IE ALAND. Mr A. E. Glover (Auckland _ Central) said that from frequent visits to the islands ho was well aware of the position of affairs there. Tho islands round and about Samoa wore, slowly drifting away from New Zealand. It tho Deaiis: am was not careful, tho . whole of the Pacific trade would .ho lost. ,Sydney people were energetic, and wore diverting tho valuable island trade to Australia. Burns, Pliilp and Co. were to tlio fore in this change in the trade. Indications of this state of affairs were shown in the high price of island and other fruit. Air Glover appealed to tho Government to tako steps to preservo tho great island trade. Once the Australian people gob hold of tho trade it would be hard to got it back. They were reducing tho island freight, anil tiro Dominion was increasing it. ISLANDS A HUGE GOLDMINE. Air C. IT. Poole (Auckland 'West) said it seamed to him that the Govom•mont did not realise the groat possibilities of tho island trade. Unless tho Government watched carefully the whole of tho Fijian trade would go to New South AVaies. Apart from tho mail boat at present running from Auckland—.and it carviad little cargo —.there wore no ether regular boats. On tho other hand, Burns, Philp and Co. were running regular services and lifting huge cargoes. Germans had developed a tremendous grip on Fiji during the recent years, and up to the war had exported huge quantities ot cargo to Germany. Tho Pacific Islands had been, a huge gold-mine to Germany. A Commission should ' bo set up by the Government on the matter of developing the Pacific trade. Mr Poole suggested tho linking up of the Pacific Islands by wireless. By this means the shipping of the island produce could bo handled much more expeditiously. THE GOVERNMENT’S INTEREST. Air Massey said if the Industries /Committoo hid done nothing else this session than to bring down this report they would have done valuable work. As to tho suggestion of installing wireless in the islands, he could say that a plant w ! as to be erected at Rarotonga. Tho Government was not neglecting tho Cook Islands’ trade, but was hampered on account of tho shortage of ships and other war conditions. On tho way Home from tho Imperial Conference, Sir Joseph Ward and himself had called at the islands and discussed matters with tho islanders from tho aspect of trade between .Now Zealand and tho islands. It was mentioned that it was cheaper to land goods in and from Sydney than Now Zealand. This aspect of tho case would have to be inquired into. Tho islands did not appear to be keen to join up with Now Zealand. A very important change had come over tho Pacific Islands owing to the opening of tho Panama Canal. This changed tho aspect of tlio islands so far as New Zealand was concerned, it gave Die islands more direct connection with Europe. Ho know people on tho other side of tho world who wore keenly looking forward to this change in the aspect of tho. islands. In twenty-five years’ time the islands would bear a very different relation to the other side of tho world than was now the case. Ho firmly believed in the view of Sir George Grey that in tho years to come New Zealand would bo tlio centre of a federation of the Pacific Islands. > GOVERNMENT APATHY. Air C. J. Parr (Eden) ‘ said the apathy of the Govern ment was largely to blame for the present drifting of tho trade. If New Zealand did not wake up, the Pacific Islands, commercially and constitutionally, would belong to Australia. Tho Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) said the South Island had lost a very valuable source of supply of pihosphato rock through tho drifting of tho island trade. Mr A. Harris (Waitemata) stressed tlio groat value to New Zealand of a supply of phosphate rock from the islands' The phosphate deposits in some of the islands were considerable and of groat value Mr L. At. Isitt (Christchurch North) said that the very fact that New Zealand was leaded with huge, financial responsibilities emphasised the necessitv for the Government to develop. Here was a great opportunity for tho louuir - to devalue a valuable trade. Thu" Hon. Dv pomare. Ministrr-in-Chargo of the vAiu. Island.-, said the
BN*NTu.u' By A:, Hr :n-Lurnttoc.-s. What did they find when the market was filled v Ah. cheap himatoe; ivoru the ( uol; 1 id - r The local growers made u -terrific row I about low price, of tomatoes. Dr Purr arc added that the Government bad a scheme in hand for linking up all tho little islands of the Pacific by wireless. THE ISLAND OF NGAEU. In reply to an interjection, Mr Massey said representations were being made to the Imperial am-horiticb in the direction of seeing that the Island of Ngaru did not go back to the Germans after the war. OTHER QUESTIONS. Replying to a quo. l lion by Air Glover tho Hon. Dr Pemare said that a considerable amount of war I: has bee ll done in connection with the lauding at Alangaia, in the Cook Island.,, but a very large amount was required to complete the work, and the funds or tho Administration are limited. Howover, ho would obtain a further report from the Resident Commissioner, and thou consider tho matter.
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New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9796, 20 October 1917, Page 4
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1,168PACIFIC ISLANDS TRADE New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9796, 20 October 1917, Page 4
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