Editorial Note

In view of the two incidents described, it is t° a §k why the New Zealand Government should be engaged in this ship-owning business at all.

The history of it does not appear ever to have been disclosed; but it is plain that the Pomare was introduced into this service in defiance of the Union Steam Ship Company. The latter, for decades, controlled and developed the Central and Eastern Pacific transport business and gave to Samoa twenty years ago a really first-class ser vice. Yet one finds to-day that Samoa, for several years, has been virtually isolated, and dependent for direct communication solely upon this one little State-owned motor-vessel, the Maui Pomare. Until the Matua arrived, this month, Samoa had had no Union Co. service, except an irregular freighter.

The time surely has come when the Government and the Company should get together, and between them provide Samoa with a shipping service or services which will allow the residents to travel in reasonable comfort, and encourage the development of the territory.

However, the abandonment of a Socialist enter prise like the Pomare is about the last thing one may expect from the present N.Z Government.

The Pomare, presumably, will carry on.