PACIFIC ISLAND TRADE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2557, 19 July 1909, Page 4

PACIFIC ISLAND TRADE.

LETTER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE. (Per Press Association.' WELLINGTON, July 17. Among the numerous subjects dealt witli by the recent Chamber of Commerce Conference in Wellington - was that of trade with the Delegates from • Auckland alleged ' that freight rates from the islands to Auckland were considerably higher than those which Sydney merchants wore called upon to pay. the result being that the former were considerably handicapped in their operations. : A resolution was then passed, drawing the attention of the Government to the importance of encouraging tho Pacific trade, and more particularly to tho lower rates said to be ruling in Australia. Since that time the matter has received special attention from the secretary of the,lndustries and Commerce department, who has just communicated a reply to the secretary of tho local chamber. He forwarded a schedule showing that tho current rates of the Union Company between Fiji and Sydney and Fiji and Auckland are identical, with the exception that on bananas and copra the rates to Sydney are Id per lb and 2s Gd per ton lower respectively than the freights on the same lines to New Zealand. He also wrote that in regard to the Wellington-Raro-tonga-Tahiti service it was satisfactory to note that the rates for both passengers and cargo compared very favorably with those charged on the other Pacific services. The question of tho Pacific trade- was regarded by the Department as one of great importance, and it is intended to foster it by all possible means. A copy of the letter is to be sent to the Auckland Chamber.