Hong Kong

Fiji Governor's

New Ship

"Viti" Launched in Hong Kong

From Our Own Correspondent

Suva, Dec. 10.

THE R.C.S. “Viti” was launched in Hong Kong on November 21, and was formally christened by Lady Northcote, wife of the Governor of Hong Kong.

The R.C.S. “Viti” has been built as a Government despatch-boat for Fiji and the Western Pacific High Com mission.

Earlier Government vessels were the “Clyde”, “Ranadi”, and “Pioneer”.

Since the last vessel was condemned, three years ago, the Colony has managed to get along without a Government steamer—and in some quarters it was felt that it might continue to do so. The “Ranadi” and “Pioneer” were costly toys, and oi little use, as far as the general public was concerned. The building of the new vessel means a capital outlay of some £40,000 and an estimated annual cost of £9,163 for running expenses.

The “Viti” will be the third Hong Kong-built vessel running in Fiji, the others being Burns, Philp’s motor vessels “Yanawai” and “Matafele”.

Editorial Note

The complaints of Fiji taxpayers about the cost of building and running a despatch-boat, for the use of the Governor, are nothing new— they are heard in every Pacific terri tory where the Administrator has a yacht for his own use.

There has been howling in New Guinea, on this subject, during the past year or two. Taxpayers cannot see why the chief official should not travel around like ordinary people.

Chief officials, for their part, com plain of the waste of time and general inconvenience which ordinary travel imposes.

The main trouble is the cost of up keep—especially the fact that a crew has to be kept standing by, idle half its time. In Papua, the Lieut.- Governor gets over part of that cost by using his Official Secretary (Hon.

H. L. Murray), who has the necessary certificate, as master of the “Laura bada”. Servants are taken aboard as required—the only man permanently aboard is the engineer. In New Guinea, the Administrator has acted recently as his own master.

It is a matter for wonder that Administrators of Islands territories do not each maintain a seaplane for this work—it would be much speedier and much cheaper.

Rev. C. L. Welch, of Nauru, who is at present in Australia on furlough, was the guest of honour at the December meeting of the Queensland London Missionary Society’s auxiliary.

Mr, S. V. Bayley, of the New Guinea Health Department, arrived in Sydney in mid-December from Rabaul.