TRADE WITH TASMANIA

Otago Witness, Issue 4028, 26 May 1931, Page 69

TRADE WITH TASMANIA

NECESSITY FOR STEAMER SERVICE DISADVANTAGES OF PRESENT ■ SYSTEM. The establishment of a regular steamer service between Tasmania and New Zealand and the fostering of reciprocal trade between the two counties form the principal , missions of Mr J. M. Fisher, of Hobart, the accredited representative of the Tasmanian Government, Chamber of Commerce, and business men, who is at present touring New Zealand. The objects of his tour were explained by Mr Fisher to an Otago Witness representative on Thursday, the visitor stressing particularly the' necessity for a regular steamer service between New Zealand and Tasmania if steady trade between the two countries was to be restored. . “ The principal objects of my visit,” said Mr Fisher, ’* are in connection with the establishment of the Hobart-Mel-bourne-Bluff steamer service, the promotion of the interchange of produce between the two countries, and the general improvement of the existing trade relationships with the Dominion, whilst I also desire to do whatever I can to bring under public notice the advantages of Tasmania as a tourist resort. One can quite understand that steamers must have to carry goods, otherwise they will not pay, and the object of my visit to the -Dominion is to point out what goods we can purchase from New Zealand and what goods New Zealand can buy from Tasmania. We can buy ropes and twine, fish, ’preserved milk, bacon and hams, potted meats, seeds, hides and skins and manures, whilst we have to offer the Dominion, of course, .our Tasmanian hardwood, out of which New Zealand was originally builtr Tasmanian wattle bark for tanning purposes, motor tyres, and other articles.” Continuing, Mr Fisher stated that he had returned from Invercargill on Wednesday evening, and whilst in the southern city was very well received by the Chamber of Commerce and the Southland Progress League, to which bodies he offered his sincere thanks for the cordiality of their welcome. Whilst in Invercargill he had the pledsnre of meeting the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr P. A. de la Perrelle), whom he found to be particularly interested in his mission, the reestablishment of the steamer service with Hobart included. Mr Perrelle informed him that it had been arranged that the Melbourne-Bluff, steamer service would be re-established in October, and suggested that Mr Fisher should bring the matter before the notice of the Tasmanian Government on his return, and ascertain if that Government would be prepared to pay any part of New Zealand’s subsidy for this service. Tasmania was suffering from one of the effects of the coastal clauses of the Navigation Act, said Mr Fisher. In other words, a steamer leaving Melbourne could not call at Hobart and embark passengers for New Zealand, so that they could not expect to recover a great deal of their lost trade with the Dominion unless they could have continuity of service. The spasmodic cargo service which now existed was not satisfactory for trading purposes. Many representations had been made by Tasmania to the Commonwealth Government for an exemption from the coastal clauses of the Navigation Act, but up to the present these requests had not been acceded to. If they were still unable to secure any redress they intended to take other action. A Dominion League had been formed in Tasmania and was very largely supported. The policy of the league was to achieve either of the following objectives:—(a) The constitution to be redrawn by a convention representing all the States;.or (b) That Tasmania shall withdraw from the Commonwealth and assume the status of a self-governing Dominion The league had its own official organ, and its members were very hopeful of good results. If Tasmania were a separate Dominion she could, of course, control her own shinping laws, and one of the first things to be done would be the re-establishment of trad" with X’ew Zealand.

In 1928 and 1029. said Mr Fisher, he made his first visits to the. Dominion with the object of the re-establishment of the steamer service, and he was now following up the work which was done during that period, feeling satisfied that eventually’ Tasmania would be again linked up with New Zealand in the matter of commerce. Mr Fisher is new continuing his mission through the North Island. At this juncture, he said, he would like to mention that it was very gratifying in Tasmania to know that the Nationalist Government had returned to power with an overwhelming majority. It had gained four seats in the elections and he was inclined to think that this was a hopeful augury of what would take place in the Commonwealth, as Tasmania was the first State to have an election. They were experiencing a difficult time in Tasmania, with a general tightening up, but the conditions .there were not to any extent as severe as those existing in the Commonwealth.