Service On The M.V.

"Lakatoi"

IN a recent issue of the “P.IJVL”, some one complained about the food on the “M.V. Lakatoi”, now on the Eastern Papua service. Well, here are some of my experiences.

Travel from Samarai to Misima, previous to the arrival of the “Lakatoi” on the run, was done in schooners of 40 to 60 tons. During the South-East season, heavy weather does not add to the comfort of the trip on the small boats. On one trip, my cabin had several inches of water in it for the whole trip, greatly to the detriment of my suit cases.

As for food—well, the cooks did their best, but who can cook when a boy has to be placed in slips to catch the firewood as it rolls out of the stove, and the pots and pans jazz around madly.

One morning, I remember, the cook heated up some tinned sausages, and when they were being brought to the table, the steward had to anchor them to the plate with his thumb.

Another boat I travelled on had a skipper of Scottish descent, who could, and often did, make a very nice stew, although he called it by some outlandish name. One evening, after a particularly bad day, he attacked the galley, and emerged some time later nursing several burns, but with the look of a job well done. We all waited expectantly for kai to arrive: but, to our surprise, when it did come, there was only a very little, on a very large plate.

The skipper asked where the rest was and the boy replied, “Taubada, I fill ’im up plate I start. This big wind 'e catch ’im ’e take ’im away”.

We looked where he pointed, and there it was, on the deck.

In contrast with these trips, I travelled on the “Lakatoi” recently, during some reasonably heavy weather. Accommoda tion was in the luxury class, with electric fans and ice-water on tap. Large com fortable, dry cabins and fresh food, all th» time, from the boat’s freezer—plenty of it, well-cooked and served.

If anyone growls about the “Lakatoi’ , he must be used to boats of the “Queen Mary” class. But it would be interest ing to know just how well the growlers live in their private life! I do not hold any brief with B.P.’s, but in all fairness I cannot find any fault with travel on the "Lakatoi”—with the exception of the absence of a bar. —“Waika”.

Dr. H. Champion Hosking, Of The

New Guinea Health Department, arrived in Sydney from Rabaul on long leave at the end of April. He was accompanied by his wife and children.