Matson Liners to Call at Tahiti

Tahiti in August

AN interesting experiment in develop ing tourist traffic between Austra lasia and Tahiti, and North Amer ica and Tahiti, is being made by the Matson Line.

The monthly Matson liner, leaving Sydney in July, will follow the ordinary route to Auckland, Suva and Pago Pago and then, instead of going north-east to Hawaii, she will run eastwards, about 1,200 miles, to Tahiti.

At the same time, the Matson liner which is running the other way, from North America to Australia, will run direct from Honolulu to Tahiti (where she will meet the north-bound liner) and thence will run westward to Pago Pago, to pick up her usual itinerary.

The two Matson liners will arrive in Papeete Harbour on the same day; they will remain there together for three days; and, on the afternoon of the third day, they will depart.

Tourist passengers from Australia and America respectively will change over to the other ship on the third day, for the return trip. Until then, they will live aboard the liner in which they arrived—although most of their time, no doubt, will be spent ashore, where a series of special entertainments has been arranged.

Up to the end of April, 90 persons had booked in Sydney for the return trip to Tahiti.

It is an interesting development of Pacific tourist traffic; and, if it does not too seriously delay the regular trans pacific mail service, it should be profit able for the Matson Line.