Nz Minister’S Hoodoo

Visit To

Western Samoa

r F ever a Dominions Minister had L a Hoodoo Voyage to the Pacific Islands, it was that suffered y New Zealand Islands Minister \ c. Webb in January-February.

Accompanied by his wife, his De artmental head (Mr. R. T. G. attrick) and private secretary (Mr. r. E. Gay), the Minister set off •om Auckland in January for amoa and Cook Islands.

The narty got to Fiji on January s—just5—just in time to see Suva blown Imost inside-out in the Colony’s ercest hurricane.

They nroceeded on the Tofua to Western’ Samoa. As they arrived i Apia, the area was experiencing terrific thunderstorm.

Two days later, as they were nbarking on a huge programme of mcing, feasting and a tour of the •oup, news arrived of the death \ the King. All entertainments ere cancelled.

Mr. Webb had a very lively 3iys session with the Samoans, in hich important administrative atters were discussed, without ar or favour. (Report elsewhere).

Both the Minister and his wife icn became seriously ill with what as called an “Islands sickness.” bey cancelled a proposed visit to ivaii; and then cancelled the re ainder of their tour (to the Cook lands).

Mr. and Mrs Webb flew back to iji and, at Nadi, joined the Trans acific plane on which the NZ rime Minister (Mr. Holland) was turning from London. They rived in Auckland on February The Minister said he would visit ie Cook Islands later this year, eanwhile, he would try to solve e Group’s main problem—that of i adequate shipping service.

IOTE; In 1914, the editor of the [M first visited the Cook Islands th the then Minister—the Hon. aui Pomare. He said exactly the me thing about the need for a lipping service).