AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 May 1918, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

TRADE WITH TONGA. Australian Cable Association. Sydney, May 7. The Premier of Tonga is visiting Sydney. In an interview lie said that New Zealand had taken the trade of Tonga from Australia, but Tonga preferred to trade with the Commonwealth. Although he made no announcement, he gave the impression that the object of his visit ' as to secure Commonwealth aid in the revival of trade between Tonga and Australia.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Association. The Premier of Tonga said it was partly owing to New Zealand's proximity, partly to the laxity or indifference of Australia, that New Zealand had been able to secure the Tongan trade. The indifference of Australia had forced the Tongan Government to subsidise the Union Company, granting free harbor, pilotage and wharfage to the extent of £4OOO per annum. Tonga's preference for trade with Australia was because no means existed for the manufacture of'oil in New Zealand from copra, which was one of Tonga's latest exports, whereas there were moans to manufacture oil in Australia. Last year Tonga was forced to send 7000 tons of copra to America, and this year it was anticipated that 15,000 tons would go there. These facts spoke for themselves.

He asked: "Why does Australia ignore us. We would rather trade' with her than any other country?"

MYSTERIOUS BUSH- TRAGEDY. Sydney, May 6. A mysterious bush tragedy lias occurred in the mountains. David Joel and his wife arrived at Wentworth Falls on April 15th, and engaged a room in the hotel. That evening they went walking, and five days later the woman was found in the bush, several miles away, unconscious, almost naked and badly bruised. She subsequently succumbed. There is no trace of Joel.—Press Association.