DIRECT TRADE WITH SYDNEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 139, 12 June 1903, Page 4

DIRECT TRADE WITH SYDNEY.

HARBOUR BXTBNBION. At the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday evening, the Chairman (Mr. W. Bewley) brought up the ques- j tion of direct trade between Sydney • and New Plymouth. He said there j was a good deal of misapprt hsneion among the country settlers as to what, had been done in the matter, and theyi were inquiring why the project had been dropped. The fact was that when the proposal was first taken up the [Australian drought was od, and conEeIquently the dearth of produce there attracted consignments from New Zea-, land. Now that the drought had broken up there was scarcely any demand for our produc?. There were, howover, all fcinds of consignments for shipment from Sydney here, but at present we had practically nothing to ofl'er, so it was no use talking about export trade. ] In the maan time the urgent question was that of harbour extension to enable large ocean passenger and cargo boats to call at the Breakwater. It was no use talking about small vessels like the TJpolu, as passengers would not travel to Australia by such ships when they could secure the comfort of the larger ones despatched from other porta. Until the harbour was made to accommodate the large steamers nothing could be done in the matter of direct trade. Mr. Morgan (local manager for the Union S.S. Co.) said that so far as he was concerned, the head office was being kept advised as to this matter, and be could say that the company was still ready to send boats here for the Sydney trade if inducement offered. He ogieed with the Chairman that the TJpolu class of boat would be useless for the purpose, as it was necessary to put on vessels drawing 20 feet of water and over. Mr Ambury had no doubt that if we had direct boats with Sydney, cheaper for goods from Heme could be obtained. MrFraeer asked Mr Morgan whether if 20 feet of water was available, the Union Company's boats would call here, or would the Company say we had not sufficient trade to justify that step. He would like the Company to say definitely whether their Sydney boats would call here if the depth of water was sufficient. He considered that what was wanted was for the district to be in touch with the best markets, and not for Taianaki to be a kind of back-door to Wellington always, but at present we were heavily handicapped. He euggested a letter should be written to the Company on the Eubjtct. Mr Morgan pMated out that one of the drawbacks to sending Sydney boats here was the question of catching the mails, but no harm would be done in making the suggested inquiry. As the question of ad; qua to accommodation was along way off, it was probable a favourable answer would be given. Mr Alexander pointed out that though there might not be a remunerative trade at first, it would grow, because, if tb.9 producers were Essured of a permanent direct trade with Australia, tbey would ba encouraged to grow produce euitabla for the Australian market. He wou'd be glad to see the Uoion Company take the matter up, but, should they not do so, doubtless novae other fi m would, and, in time, reap a good reward for their enterprise. The Chairman said he had a confidential inquiry from another source as to tha pxsibla piseenger and goods traffic. The first matter, howeve-, was the haibcur. That difficulty overcome, th re would, he was sure, be a good pissenger traffic, and the goods trade would come in tinn, Mr Alexander moved that the Chamber, recognising the importance of intercolonial trade, urge the Harbour Board to push on with the work of the extension of the harbour so aa to give adeqmte accommodation for intercolonial vessel?. Iu supporting the motion, Mr Ambury pointed out that the ac?ion of tho Chamber should streDg'hvn the hands of the Harbour Board when coming to a conclusion on the proposal for extension now beforo the Board. The motion was then carried unanimously.