THE MAUI POMARE

Evening Post, Issue 29, 3 August 1936, Page 10

THE MAUI POMARE

AN EARLY SURVEY

SUITABILITY FOR SERVICE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, This Day.

One result of the good-will mission j made to Samoa by the Parliamentary delegation will be an early survey of the Government steamer Maui Pomare with a view to ascertaining her suitability to continue in the Island service. Both the Hon. F. Langstone and Mr. J. O'Brien have formed an unfavourable impression of the vessel; particularly during her return trip to New Zealand when she encountered very rough weather. ■ Mr. O'Brien advanced the opinion that a bigger, faster, and better-equip-ped vessel was needed to replace the Maui Pomare. The Minister, while agreeing with Mr. O'Brien that the ship had many unsuitable points for the service in which she was engaged, thinks that she can be brought up to full requirements by making improvements, particularly in regard to accommodation for the crew. The Maui Pomare ran into really rough weather soon after leaving Kuie on her voyage to Lyttelton, and weather conditions were rough throughout the whole of the voyage. At times she was only making between four and five knots. On Friday when the ship was lurching through a heavy sea Mrs. O'Brien, who was accompanying her husband on the voyage, was tossed out of the chair in which she was sitting while talking to Mr. Langstone and thrown across v the cabin. She suffered a badly-injured arm and will have to undergo medical examination.