Importers’ Protest to Prime Minister

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 609, 11 March 1929, Page 11

Importers’ Protest to Prime Minister

ISLAND FRUIT TRADE MAUI POMARE S CARGO In connection with the diversion of the New Zealand Government motorship Maui Ppmare to Auckland on Saturday with a cargo of fruit, a large portion of which was spoiled, the Auckland Fruit Importers’ Association has released for publication a letter which it dispatched to the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Sir Joseph "Ward, on Wednesday last. The letter protests against what it regards as unjust Government interference in the banana trade, and asks that the losses in connection with the running of the liinemoa, and Maui Pomare be made public. Following is the letter; Sir. —■ ‘ With further reference to our telegram of January 9 last and your reply of February 7, in which you stated you would confer with the Minister for the Cook Islands upon his return to Wellington early the following week, we are disappointed that no further communication has yet been received from you. "The qLiestion is of the greatest importance and urgency to us and we now take the opportunity of amplifying our representations of January 9. "The commissioners who recently investigated affairs in Samoa state in their report (as noted from the daily Press) that the purchase by the Crown estates of native copra on consignment and the purchase of native-grown bananas is wrong in principle and should cease.

“In view of your recently-reported utterances that the recommendations of the commissioners wotild be given effect to, this association now feels that it can confidently look forward to the Government ceasing to engage actively in the banana trade by the guarantee of a minimum price f.o.b. for all bananas shipped in the Maui Pomare “Such action could only be taken by a Government, with the large resources of the community behind it, as no private firm could handle such a perishable line as fruit on the system of ‘all losses and no gains,’ it being agreed by the Government that if prices realised more than the guaranteed amount the shippers wotild benefit to that extent —all losses being borne by the Government. “Should the Government consider the Maui Pomare should continue to be employed in carrying fruit, then we are of opinion freights should be charged that would at least cover running costs, interest and depreciation. “THE FIRST BLUNDER” “Auckland merchants inaugurated, developed and maintained a trade between Niue Island and Auckland. At first schooners and small steamers were engaged in the trade and later the service was subsidised by the Government. The Cook Islands Department then arranged to re-commis-sion the old steamer Hineraoa, which had been out of service for some years and, at tremendous expense, she was placed, on the Niue Island-Auckland run.

“In our opinion it was at this stage that the first blunder was made, as it would have been possible to have arranged with the Union Steam Ship Company for the Tofua to call at Niue on her monthly run round the Tongan, Samoan and Fijian Islands —Niue being in close proximity to Tonga. "After placing the liinemoa in the service it was found she could carry, if running continuously to Auckland, more fruit and copra than the Island could produce. In consequence of this it was decided to include Norfolk Island in her itinerary—the steamer being scheduled to leave Auckland for Norfolk upon her return from the Niue Island trip. ITINERARY ALTERED “At this time the Government, sanctioned the purchase of the new steamer Maui Pomare, it being proposed by the Government she should run to Samoa as well as Niue and Norfolk. In response to agitation from the South Island the Cook Islands Department decided to alter the proposed itinerary and make the South Island the first call after leaving Niue, but an assurance was given in Auckland by the late Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) and the then Secretary for the Cook Islands (Mr. J. D. Gray) that the Auckland trade would not be interfered with and that Niue would still be able to consign bananas to Auckland.

"Last September the Government went further into the banana trade, having arranged with the natives at Niue that they would handle the whole of the bananas from Niue, and now it is impossible for Auckland firms to obtain consignments from natives, as hitherto. Some of the natives have written to their Auckland agents complaining that they were being compelled to ship their fruit through the Resident Commissioner to an unknown destination —the Government splitting shipments at its discretion over the Southern ports. “We consider that there has been a distinct breach of faith on the part of the late Government in taking over the sale and distribution of Niue bananas in view of the late Prime Minister’s distinct promise that the Auckland-Niue trade would not be interfered with. LOSS OF £50,000? “We consider that the losses made in connection with the growing, purchasing and guarantees in respect of Samoan bananas and also the loss Oil the running of the Hinemoa and tlie Maui Pomare during the past five years should be made public. We are of opinion that such losses would not be less than £50,000, which losses cannot be set off to any benefits gained by the Niue or Samoan natives or to anv gain of the New Zealand public through being able to purchase cheap fruit.

"Our association is willing to arrange for a deputation to meet you if you consider it advisable or if you think further information is required. It is perhaps not out of place for us to mention that the Auckland Chamber of Commerce was also in communication with the late Government respecting the interference on the part of the New Zealand External Affairs Department with the Niue and Samoan trade.”

The association has not vet received a reply from Sir Joseph.