Replacement of the Maui Pomare

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28264, 30 April 1957, Page 12

Replacement of the Maui Pomare

The Marine Department’s announcement that plans for a ship to replace the Maui Pomare in the Government’s Cook Islands service are practically complete is good news, because a new vessel has long been desirable. The news would be better still if the department could give an assurance that it has had the benefit of advice from Pacific shipping experts outside the government service. Rightly or wrongly, the belief persists that the long story of disappointment with the Maui Pomare had its beginning in amateurish planning in a New Zealand department. In the last 28 years, of course, New Zealand public servants have had so many discouraging experiences that their files should at least give much information on what to avoid in the design, equipment, and. operation of a ship serving the Cook Islands. As early as 1932, when disposal of the Maui Pomare was recommended, losses were shown and fruit cargoes were being spoiled. The depression curiously, brought some improvement, so that in 1935 the Prime Minister (Mr Forbes) was able to report that the ship was paying her way. By 1938 losses were again incurred. During the war, the Maui Pomare gave invaluable service, simply because no other ship was available to maintain contact with Rarotonga. Afterwards, the Island Territories Department was able to announce, apparently with some pride, that the ship was now free from engine trouble, though other repairs were expensive. Again replacement was under consideration, the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) inviting suggestions on how to get another ship. About this time it was estimated by a member of Parliament that losses amounted to a subsidy of £1 a case on fruit. A change of government made little difference, except perhaps to confirm the belief that shipping companies did not want the Cook Island business, even with a subsidy. By 1955 (when another £ 100,000 was spent on repairs) it was said that the Mau: Pomare had already cost Zealand taxpayers some-

thing over £1,000,000. The fact is that the Maui Pomare was never suitable for the work in which she was engaged. Possibly some government should have been prepared to cut its losses, in spite of the difficulties of the depressioi and the post-war inflation. But it is fairly certain that even the most suitable ship would have lost money, or private enterprise would have taken one of several opportunities to run the business. What is quite clear is that New Zealand had to provide this service, even at a substantial loss. Although New Zealand consumers have had some advantage from shipments of tropical fruit, the main consideration has always been this country’s moral obligation to its island territories. The losses on the Maui Pomare have been regrettably, and probably unnecessarily, high; but they have not been too high for the honouring of this obligation. A new ship may show little profit, though ultimately its greater efficiency should result in a substantial trade increase. It should, however, give the Cook Islands a more reliable link with its administrative and commercial centre. If the New Zealand taxpayers save something in the process so much the better.