ILy That the Senleva was ITtouf sea-

Stormy Debate

Over New Fijian Vessel

THERE was some lively debate in the Fiji Legislative Council recently when the official estimates were under consideration.

Hon. Alport Barker referred to the amount of £3OOO set down as the cost of a new vessel for the Lau Islands. He dedared that the Seniceva which was built in Fiji for that purpose and launched last year was found to be unsuitable owing to defects in her design.

He expressed the opinion that the Director of Public Works (Hon. W. Wise) was not competent to design a vessel—he might be a first-class civil engineer, but naval architecture was a profession by itself The Acting Director of Public Works retorted that he had travelled in Fiji waters sinoe a bov and hp was r<aadv tn ILy That the Senleva was ITtouf seaworthy vessel. He said that many points raised by Mr. Barker did not exist in fact.

Defending Mr. Wise, Mr. Ragg pointed out that in him they had the most efficient and cleverest Commissioner of Works who had ever set foot in Fiji. . . .. , After further stormy discussion, the Colonial Secretary said that although no final decision had been made as to the plans for altering the Seniceva, the vessel was not going to be used for Lau, as she was definitely unsuited for conditions there. Before any structural changes were made in her for use elsewhere, a naval architect would be consulted.