EXTRA EDITION TRIP TO SAMOA

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 34, 10 February 1920, Page 6

EXTRA EDITION TRIP TO SAMOA

DETAILS OF THE PARTY

FORTY-EIGHT MEMBERS OF

PARLIAMENT.

It was announced to-day that 48 members o£ Parliament, 14 from the Legislative Council and 34 from the House of Representatives, will visit Samoa in accordance with the decision come to last session. The party originally was somewhat larger, but some members have now found it impossible to mako the trip. The following are those who will join the Mokoia at Wellington on Saturday: —

Legislative Council.— Hons. W V C Csmcross, W. Earushaw. G-. J. Garland. J. B. Gow, J. Grimmond, A. F Hawke T. Mac Gibbon. H. L. Michel, R. Moore, J. T. Patuki, W. Stewart. G. 11. Thomson, W. H. Triggs, and W. J. Geddis.

House of Representatives.—Sir James Allen, Messrs. G, J. Am arson. F. Bartram, J. Bitchener, R. P. Bollard, J. Graigie, J. S. Dickson, W. H. Field, G. Forbes-, XV. Glenn, A. Hamilton.. J. R. Hamilton, A. Harris. H. E. Holland, J. Horn, E. J. Howard,' L. M. Isitt, E. Kellett, E. P. Lee, J. P. Luke, J. M'Oombs, F. Mander, V. H. Potter. W. D. Powdrell, V. H. Reed, Sir R. H. Rhodes, Messrs. T. W. Rhodes, T. K. Sidey, S. G. Smith, W. D. Stewart, W. A. Veitch, G-. Witty, R. A, Wright; and' J. A. Young.

Colonel Tate, Administrator of Samoa, and Mr. F. W. Platts, Resident Commissionei at Rarotonga, will return to their duties by the Mokoia, and in addition a. number of Government ofncisls will accompany the party. Included among these is Mr. A. Gibbs. Assistant Electrical Engineer to the Post and 1 Telegraph Department, who will inspect the wireless stations and report upon proposed new stations required to.complete the chain of wireless communication between the Dominion and the Islands. Mr. P. Black, curator of the Palmerston North Gardens, who is an exper.t on tropical horticulture, will accompany the party for the purpose of reporting upon tropical agriculture in the several islands, while Mr. W. W. Bird 1, now inspector for the Hawkes Bay Education Board, and formerly senior inspector of Native Schools, will report upon the present system of education a;t the Cook Islands and Samoa, and will make suggestions for a future policy. A scheme of public works, including roads, drainage, electric lighting, water supply, harbour improvements, cool storage,' quarters, etc., will be forthcoming- as the re^ suit of the investigations of Mr. H. Vickerman, of the Public Works Department's head office engineering staff. The Government Photographer is to make the trip to secure a representative series of films of native village life, dancing, customs, and industries. Incidentally he will take with him for exhibition at the places visited a series of New Zealand films. The films secured during- the trip will, be exhibited later in New Zealand. RUMOURS ABOUT THE MOKOIA.

■ A Press Association message from. Dunedin states that a rumour which is often being repeated hangs persistently round the waterfront in respect to the Mokoia's projected trip to Samoa, and the substance of it is that the steamer will experience some difficulty in getting away from New Zealand. The Mokoia is at present being fitted up for the trip .at Port Chalmers, and the rumoured, hold-up does not seem to be applicable to the workmen who have been carrying out the work required' to be done on board despite the fact that a number of influenza cases have had to be removed from her. It wae reported yesterday that further cases of influenza had developed among the crew of the Kaiapoi, which arrived at Port Chalmers on Sunday evening from Westport and berthed alongside the Mckoia to bunker that vessel. This morning the coaling operations did not go on, as the waterside workers declined to go on board the Mokoia: because of the influenza cases which are .still developing on her. The Kaiapoi was hauled to another berth to discharge into hulks.

When the above telegram was referred to the Department of External Affairs it was stated no official information concerning the position had been received. Inquiries were being made with a view to ascertaining whether the ship would be ready to sail on.time. .

The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, M.P., Leader of the Opposition, has intimated to- the Government his inability, owing to health reasons, to accompany the Parliamentary. party to Samoa. Mr. Mac Donald intends remaining in Gisborne until the end of the month, and contemplates, provided his health permits, taking a trip to Vancouver to visit his relatives in British Columbia-