TRADE WITH TONGA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 42, 10 July 1914, Page 5

TRADE WITH TONGA.

AUCKLAND LOSING IT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. Great dissatisfaction is being shown by those Auckland merchants engaged in trade with the Friendly Islands and Fiji and Samoa with the present state of the steamer . service, and particularly with that portion of it which affects the Auckland and Samoan trade. At a meeting of those interested in the matter held to-day, Mr. Bart Kent, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said that-the Union Company's fortnightly service, which was discontinued a few months ago, had given satisfaction. The change to a very poor monthly service which had been made, however, had caused great inconvenience and loss to traders, both in Auckland and in Tonga. The trade which should come to Auckland was being diverted to Sydney. The time, therefore, had now arrived when the Union Steamship Company should be asked to reconsider the position, and tcf put on a small steamer to ply fortnightly between Auckland and Tonga. All those present at the meeting were unanimous in their opinion that trade was being diverted to Sydney, and the longer they waited the less chance there would he of regaining the'lost trade. Competition with the new German shipping lines would also have to be considered. Mr. Bart Kent finally agreed that the Council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce would fully discuss the position and urge the Union Steamship Co. to re-establish the old service, or else give them a small steamer specially for this trade. The possibility of approaching the Government on the subject would also be considered.