Memories of the “Lady Roberts"

Samoa’S Little Ships

Letter to the Editor. 4PROPOS the second inquiry into the loss of the Tiafau ( P.1.M., Sept.), it is stated that the findings “were not in ac cordance with public opinion in Apia.”

This is quite understandable, if a review of marine affairs in Samoa is undertaken.

The first marine venture of the Admin istration was in June, 1923, when the S.S.

Lady Roberts was purchased from New Zealand. European officers, comprising captain, chief and second officer, and chief engineer, were sent from Samoa to steam the ship from Auckland, and she was taken over from the Defence Department. After much haggling, two additional engineers w r ere secured for the trip, in addition to three local-born Samoan firemen and other half-caste deck-hands, none of whom had previously held sea jobs.

Fitted with 2ft. of 2-inch timbers for extra freeboard, 16 tons of coal on deck and two tons on the engine room plates, the ship left Auckland. Of 250 tons register and 98 horse power, the trip was no pleas ure cruise, but after rough trips of six days to Suva from Russell, and four days Suva to Apia, she arrived, and was com missioned with a European captain and an engineer. The rest of the crew were local-born and native Samoans, etc.

No second engineer was provided and

the ship commenced her mail run between Apia and Pago Pago, a distance of approx. 80 miles, and a run of 12 hours by night.

Forty miles of Pacific Ocean separate the two islands, yet up to 50 deck passengers were carried, life saving equipment consist ing of a whaleboat, small dinghy and about a dozen kapok lifebelts. At times, the weather encountered was sufficient to de lay the Matson liners and, speaking as one with T.B.D. experience during the War, I state emphatically that for negli gence the Administration should have been prosecuted. With the engineer disabled, there was at all times not one soul aboard the ship capable of stopping the engines or shutting down the boiler.

After five months, a Chinese second en gineer was procured, and designs were submitted for a larger ship. This was due to passengers declaring their intention never to travel on the Lady Roberts after their one trip. Islands commercial travel lers can vouch for this.

The new ship was designed sketchily by Capt. Willcocks (the Harbourmaster at Apia) and Mr. Toni Hutton (draughtsman in the P.W.D.), and this ship, primarily intended for inter-island trade, became the now famous Maui Pomare. Her history from infancy is painful to read about.

These ventures of the Samoan Adminis tration are on a par with previous failures too numerous to mention, which produced the first citizens’ indignation meeting, at which Mr. O. F. Nelson was appointed chairman. As he was an M.L.C. at the time, it was deduced that he would be the man to approach the Governor, Which he did, with disastrous results to himself.

Such is fame!

Regarding the unfortunate captain of the Tiafau, we have another instance of the old adage used extensively in Australia, commonly called “carrying the baby.”

The correct verdict of the Marine Court should have been negligence by the Administration in allowing the vessel to leave without adequate life-saving gear.

I am, etc.,

Ed. V. Tibbo.

Tavua, Fiji.