Samoa’s Shipping Service

THERE seems to be a good deal of uneasiness among Samoan inter ests concerning the shipping transport facilities likely to be avail able to the Territory in the near fut ure.

In past times, Apia was a regular port of call for two Union Company liners, an Oceanic steamer and a North German Lloyd steamer, connecting with Sydney. To-day, the unfortunate country is dependent only upon the Union liner, Tofua, and the Maui Pom are—the small steamer run by the New Zealand Government. For other con nections, Samoa has to be content with the irregular running of small vessels between Pago Pago, Apia and Suva.

Now, owing to the depression, and the action of the N.Z. Government in running the Maui Pom are in direct

competition with the Tofua, the Union Co. is said to be seriously thinking of withdrawing the Tofua. Mr. O. F.

Nelson ,of course, blames the New Zea land Government for the position, and suggests an appeal to the Matson people; while Samoans generally are excitedly calling upon their gods to witness that they do not deserve such isolation. It does seem a shameful thing that this rich and progressive territory should be treated in a ship ping sense as if it were Pitcairn Island.

However, it is not likely that the Tofua will be withdrawn. That would be simply an invitation to the liners to call at Apia, on their way between Suva and Pago Pago. The Union Co., no matter how angry it may be with the N Z. Government, is not going to make a gift of such value to its American rivals.