ISLAND STEAM SERVICE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 23, 28 January 1924, Page 7

ISLAND STEAM SERVICE.

IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS. INSINCERITY ALLEGED. The steamer service to Niue Island, which was first promised by Mr. Seddon as far back as 1899, is not likely to be inaugurated at this stage," declared a well-known Auckland shipping man who has had considerable dealing with the trade at Niue, in protesting to a "Star" representative to-day against the impossible conditions which are contained in the Department's contracts, which were criticised in Saturday's issue. In the first place he flatly contradicted the suggestion that a fair-sized boat cannot anchor at the island, and he pointed out that tho TJ.S.S. Navua, the Government steamer Tutanekai, H.M.s. Mildura, and tho four-masted schooner Henrietta had all anchored there. The last-named, a 1000-ton vessel, was there for fourteen days. Niue, he said was the safest island in the Pacific, and in 50 years there bad only been three wrecks there. He also considered it was one of the healthiest islands in the Pacific, its only drawback being that it was somewhat out of the way. "Words Without Deeds." In regard to the calling for tenders for a steamer service to Niue the shipping man said that every one connected with the island regarded it as a huge joke. The reason was that the conditions of the contract were absolutely ridiculous, and such that no shipping men 'would entertain for a minute, as bad already been pointed out in the "Star." There was, he said, a strong feeling that there conditions had purposely been made impossible in order to discournge tenders being, sent in. He recalled a previous occasion when tenders were callpd, not for a steamer service, but for a sailing boat service, and after the owners of the ill-fated Kaeo had sent in a tender they were informed that it had not been accepted, but that a steamer service had been accepted instead, although tenders had not been called for one. The Old Isabel Again. The plans for the proposed steamer service did not mature, however, and the 'barquentine Isabel, which is just about completing her fiftieth year, and is owned by the people who offered the steamer service, was put on the run. For some reason or other, it was later found necessary to engage the Kaeo for a year, and it was on her first trip, in charge of a master who had not previously been to the island, that she was wrecked. Now there is again talk of a steamer service, but it is feared that no tenders will be sent in. The old Isabel may have to be placed on tho run once more. Yes, We Have Plenty Bananas. On previous occasions, as already indicated, promises of a steamer service have been published, and on this understanding the natives have been encouraged to plant banana trees. One family alone has planted 2000 trees. In another case the Islander cautiously asked: "Is this promise true or are we only planting trees for the flies to settle on?" Some years ago money was voted for a wireless station, but like the steamer service it is still to come, and there has not been the slightest sign of it yet. The using of roads for transport of goods to Alofi from Avntele and Tuapa was condemned by the shipping man as putting a heavy transport burden on the traders, each of these two ports ; being six miles from Alofi. In the past, he said, ships had called at the three ports—it was a matter of half an hour's sailing from one to the other. and all the heavy carriage of goods overland could be avoided by continuing this inexpensive practice.