Tonga’s New Shipping Is Making Money

With malice towards none, hut with perhaps a glance towards those who were quick to say that the Tonga Government was making a blunder in investing in its own ships, Prince Tungi said in Suva, in September, that despite dire predictions, the new Dutch-built Copra Board vessel “Aoniu ” had shown an operating profit of £lO,OOO in her first year of operations. But the ship was already showing signs of becoming inadequate for the volume of trade.

Prince Tungi said that there had been considerable revenue derived from the inter-island and Tonga-Fiji passenger trade which had expanded beyond all expectations. The reason for its expansion evidently was that people who were formerly reluctant to commit them selves to a slow passage in an uncomfortable and cramped vessel, were now journeying forth to visit friends and satisfy their love of travel in a modern vessel in comfort and safety. . . n Apart from the passenger revenue Tonga was * substantial saving in freight on trans-shipment cargoes from Fiji by HaVi Prin£ Tmgfwas en route to Tahiti, and business trin to Honakona and Singapore Plater in the year. He might also pay another visit to Japan in connection with the fishing vessel being built there and due to be launched in mid-November and completed in DeC TriZe Tungi travelled to Papeete b« ana TEAL returned to Samoa by the "Thorsisle", met by Htfofua for the last stage of the journey back to Nukualofa.