Floating Fair
p. 35 · Read in the full issue
Tofua Becomes A Floating Fair For Mission
THE Union Steam Ship Company’s motor vessel Tofua was a float ing fair for the 25-man New Zealand trade mission’s visit to Tonga, Niue, American Samoa and Western Samoa. It had 800 square feet of stands and displays by NZ manufac turers and the NZ Government.
A display covering 200 square feet of deck space on the covered prom enade decks featured goods ranging from tooth brushes to engines. In the background were 8 ft. x 4 ft. photo graphs showing New Zealanders at work and how they live.
In the lounge was a tourist display with the theme: “New Zealand—a holiday world in itself, so near, so different”.
The trade mission left Suva in the Tofua on July 14, and called at Nukualofa and Vavau (Tonga) on July 16 and 17, at Pago Pago (American Samoa) on July 18, and at Apia (Western Samoa) from July 19 to 24.
As there is no wharf at Apia, a shore-to-ship launch service was pro vided to enable islanders to see the trade displays and meet mission members.
From Apia, the mission flew to Papeete (Tahiti) for a stay of six days. From there, plans were to fly to New Caledonia and the New Hebrides for visits to Noumea, Santo and Vila from August 1 to 10.