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Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1939, Page 8

Negotiations are in progress for the linking up of Tonga and Fiji with Japan by a new shipping service. The company concerned is a Japanese one with extensive services in various parts of the world. The negotiations are nearing finality and it is expected that the service will be inaugurated at an early date. This announcement was made by Mr Y. Banno. of Auckland, upon his return by the Matua after spending two months in Apia. Nukualofa, and Suva. Mr Bannot recently opened a new branch of his firm of importers and exporters at Suva. The negotiations are being conducted by Mr Banno. who hopes that the shipping company, which already trades with New Zealand, will incorporate the islands in the ports of call of its ships. The proposal is that ships after calling at New Zealand ports should go to Japan by way of Tonga and Suva. General cargo will be brought from Japan for the islands and the cargo for Japan will consist of timber and trochus shell. A considerable amount of cargo from Japan is at present | transshipped at Auckland and forwar-1 ded to the islands in other vessels. *