Of Forum schedules,
p. 59 · Read in the full issue
and bananas ...
Francis Hong Tiy, commercial
manager of the Pacific Forum Line, comments from Apia on our short article ‘Concern on Exports’ (PIM Jul p 73).
The article spoke of the con cern felt in Western Samoa about PFL schedules on the New Zealand run, and of the feeling among growers that the schedules may be lowering the value of Western Samoan pro duce on the New Zealand mar ket.
Mr Hong Tiy writes: We would like to advise that our sailing schedules have been changed to accommodate re quests by the Western Samoan Government. Both the Fua Kavenga and Forum Samoa call first at Auckland to discharge Island produce before thev proceed to southern New Zealcnd ports.
We also wish to advise that
the PFL, Shipping Corporation
of New Zealand, and New Zealand’s Department of Scientific and Industrial Re search, are making continuous
efforts to ensure that the carry ing conditions of Island ba nanas conform to the highest standards. To this end a team of scientists has been put together to establish the physi
cal capabilities of equipment
used to carry bananas, and to monitor the performance of
such equipment.
As a result of these efforts, and our continuing concern to increase Island exports to New Zealand, and intra-regional trading among members of the South Pacific Forum, we wish to report that at least 1000 tonnes a month of cargo moves to New Zealand bv PFL vessels r rom Island ports.
In addition Fiji exports 500-700 tonnes a month to Papua New Guinea. Solomon Islands, the Samoas, Tonga and Tuvalu.
With the recent ratification of a trade agreement among Forum countries, we are optimistic that greater volumes of cargo will be carried on our southbound sectors.