SHIP LAUNCHED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 115, 26 February 1936, Page 5

SHIP LAUNCHED

UNION COMPANY’S ENTERPRISE. CHILLED MEAT POSSIBILITY. MEETING FOREIGN COMPETITION. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, February 25. In the presence of a distinguished gathering, Lady Bledisloe launched the Union Steam Ship Company’s Awatea, wdiich took the water in perfect style. Mr James Callander (director of Vickers, Armstrong, Ltd. , thanking Lady Bledisloe at the luncheon following the launching, hinted that the Union Company was alive to the possibilities of New Zealand’s entry into the chilled meat trade as a result of recent developments in refrigeration. He added that the company’s policy was now so progressive that there was little opportunity for foreign tonnage to enter its domain. Sir Charles Craven, stressing the development of British engineering works declared that he was convinced it would be able to undertake the defence programme without panic. SHIPPING IN THE PACIFIC. LORD BLEDISLOE’S VIEW'S. (Received This Day, 8.40 LONDON, February 25. At a luncheon given by Vickei s, Armstrong, Ltd., at Barrow-on-F'ill-ness, after Lady Bledisloe had launched the Union .Steam Ship Company’s 14,000-ton liner Awatea, Viscount Biedisloe referred to the dark outlook for British shipping in the Pacific. He said it was a source of hopeful relief that the problem was receiving the earnest consideration of the Australian and New Zealand Governments, which would he materially augmented by the definite, generous encouragement of the British Government. Lord Bledisloe praised Hie Union Company’s enterprise in building the coastal vessels Matua and Kauri, with the possibility of laying down a third, and also in buying five de Havilland air-liners for services in the Dominion.