THE ISLAND TOUR

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14265, 16 January 1920, Page 5

THE ISLAND TOUR

LEGISLATORS'’ ITINERARY. MANY QUESTIONS TO INVESTIGATE. PRIME MINISTER NOT GOING. (By Telegraph.—Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, Friday. There arc serious questions to be investigated by legislators of both Houses who have been invited by the ment to visit Samoa and other Pacific Islands, so that the trip will not be purely one of pleasure. It is 1" ™' “ lo use the Union Company s Mokoia, and as ladies are not being invited, there will be ample room for the travellers, who will not exceed about 100 in number. They will use the ship throughout as an hotel. , . The proposed itinerary is as follows. Leave Wellington February 12, or ~nd as alternative on Febiuaiy * arrive Rarotonga February 17, leave in the evening of February 18 for Mangala, staving 12 hours. Leave Mangaia on the 19th for Aitutaki, slaying 12 hours. Leave for Niue on 20lli, arriving 23rd; stay for 12 hours. 'Apia, the centre of the Samoan Administration, will be reached on Tuesday, February 24. It is proposed to stay seven days, visiting Vavau afterwards March 2 and 3, Nukualofa March 4, Suva Xlarch 6, foi a threedays’ stay, leaving on the evening of March 8 "for Auckland, where the ship is expected to arrive on March 12 at 5 p.m. Objects of the Visit. As the Premier, owing to pressure of business, will be unable to accompany the party, Sir James Allan, Minister in Charge of Samoan Affairs, will be the Government’s leading representative. Sir James Alien remarked to your correspondent that the trip is being undertaken' to allow members of Parliament an opportunity of studying the indentured labour question in Samoa on the spot. “That,” he said, “is the main object, but we are also utilising the ship for the purpose of enabling legislators and a special commission to investigate trade matters connected with Samoa, the Cook Group and other islands, especially Fiji, where the British Commissioner is anxious lo have a conference on the subject of trade relations with New Zealand, and the Government will appoint several New Zealand business men as experts lo report on this question. They will travel on the Mokoia and attend the proposed conference at Suva. The tour will be of great value lo Parliamentarians, w : ho in future will be called upon to deal with questions affecting the education, health and development of our Island possessions. I am sorry Mr Massey cannot accompany the party, but he may take a later opportunity of visiting the Islands.”