OPTIMISTIC REPORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1055, 20 August 1930, Page 7

OPTIMISTIC REPORT

RECORD OF GOVERNMENT MOTOR-SHIP MAUI POMARE’S WORK THE BU2PB Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The return to effiicency and usefulness of the Government steamer, Maui Pomare, following the special repair work, is reflected in the annual report of the Cook Islands Department to March 31, 1930, presented in the House today. The vessel has proved her usefulness and given no further trouble during the year. “Despite the troubles and difficulties experienced in the new trade the performance of the Maui Pomare over the year has demonstrated that she is capable of giving good and useful ser- j vice in the carriage of fruit from the Islands to New Zealand, and has justified the opinion of the technical ad visory committee of last year,” says the report. “The disabilities and ob scure and doubtful features” referred to by the committee were given a good deal of attention during the year. Some have been overcome, and the defects remedied, but certain inherent Tveaknesses in design remain. Since the extensive overhaul given the vessel’s engines in June last, she has maintained her scheduled itinerary without interruption. She completed seven trips to Norfolk Island and a similar number to Niue and Samoa during the year. CARGO AND LOSSES “During the year the vessel has carried 4,451 tons of cargo between New Zealand and Samoa, 2,329 tons of cargo betwen New Zealand and Niue, 940 tons of cargo between New Zealand and Norfolk, and 47,000 superficial feet of timber. Included were 70,894 cases of fruit, of which only half of ono per cent, was lost, the balance of shipments being landed in first-class condition. Although intended as a cargo vessel oiilj*, the demand for passages for officials and by pleasure-seekers has been such that the very limited accommodation provided has been taxed to its utmost, no less than 771 passengers having been carried during the year. “A valuable fruit trade with Samoa has been made possible, and lias no doubt assisted the territory during the present depression in its main industry, copra. The Administrator c ft Samoa on May last wrote as follows: —“The banana trade is a most valu able one to Samoa, and can be made more so. Its cessation would cause great loss both monetary and otherwise to Samoa and indirectly to New Zealand.” “The Niue trade has been given a considerable impetus and, with the exception of two abnormal years, shows a records A valuable banana trade with New Zealand lias also been made possible and is being eagerly exploited by the Niue people. A regular service with Norfolk Island was carried out throughout the year, and though showing good promise was abandoned to give a full-time service with our own territories.

ALTERATIONS TO VESSEL “Considerable work was done on the vessel during the year by way of alterations, repairs and additional fittings, which has placed a considerable burden on the year’s accounts. Further extraordinary expenditure apart from the engines, repatriation and hospital expenses of the native staff has also been necessary. Government exigencies require the vessel to work four New Zealand ports, w*hich added heavily to the cost of this service, as against a connection with one or two New” Zealand ports only. Provided a reasonable number of New Zealand ports of call could be arranged, the financial position could be put on a satisfactory footing. “For the year ended March 31, 1930, the revenue aud expenditure account shows an actual loss of £4,916 ISs 2d. against an anticipated loss of £2,201 as budgeted for. The actual figures were: Expenditure: Estimated £33,261, actual £30,091 19s 9d. Revenue: £27,000 and £25,130 Is 7d. FALL IN REVENUE The fall iu revenue was due to the necessity of laying the vessel up for several w r eeks at the beginning of the year owing to a serious outbreak of influenza among the native crew, and again from May to June for the purpose of placing the ship under extensive overhaul to remedy certain structural defects in the machinery, such periods being, of course, nonrevenue producing. “Nothing has been left undone in the past to keep the vessel running satisfactorily, and the assistance of the Technical Advisory Committee has been invaluable. It is quite safe to state that without this assistance the service could not have been carried on.”