WHITE WINGS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 81, 16 January 1928, Page 7

WHITE WINGS.

DISAPPEARING FROM THE SEAS. There is a passage in the annual report of the British Sailing Ship Owners' Association whichi must, call up feelings of regret says the Sheffield ''Daily Telegraph"). It shows, that the sailing ship is fast disappearing from the seas. Seven years ago the work gross tonnage of that species of vessel amounted to 3,409,000; to-day it has declined to 1,926,000 Even these figures do not reveal the. whole stoiy, for were barges and similar cratt excluded the world tonnage ot real sailing vessels of 100 tons gross and upwards is seen to be only 1,153,000, and . ot that Great Britain and Ireland claim but 25 700 It is true we still keep on buildini new ships—l 34 were added to the nationrj register last year—but this was much more than counter-balanced by the removal of no fewer than 218. Steam and oil are displacing what was, perhaps, the most picturesque achievement of man in his endeavour to harness the forces of Nature. Between the mastless and sailless steamer and the bird-like outline of a ship under full canvas there is no more comparisor in point of beauty than there is between a modern flour factory and'an old-time windmill. While we must regret the disappearance of the white wings from the seas, we cannot stem the current which has brought it about. Beauty must give place to utility; that is the beginning and ending of the whole matter.