"Muliama" for BSI

Regular Service Uncertain—No Shipping Facilities

THE small BP motor-vessel “Muliama,” scheduled for the Solomon Islands in mid-July, does not inaugurate a regular service as a common carrier. She has been engaged only to carry cargo for the Lever and Fairymead Companies, and the Government, all of whom will take delivery ex-ship’s slings.

Burns, Philp have made this arrange ment because they have no shipping facilities whatever in the Solomons now —no agents, no goods-sheds. no wharfage and no means of handling miscellaneous cargo.

The future depends entirely upon the conditions disclosed by the “Muliama’s”

July trip. If there is to be a regular Sydney-Solomons service, the BSI Gov ernment and other interests will have to co-operate in providing facilities and in guaranteeing cargo. Back-loading (Solomons to Sydney) is one of the pro blems. The Solomons produce only copra —and all copra is being shipped direct to Britain.

Mr. S. C. Lai, who has been Chinese consul in Suva, Fiji, for two years, arrived in Auckland by flying-boat in June. He was on his way to take up an appointment as consul in Vancouver.