SPEED AND SIZE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 229, 27 September 1930, Page 9

SPEED AND SIZE.

LEVIATHAN LINERS.

Economic Aspects of New Giant

Cunarders.

STATE-AIDED INSURANCE,

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, September 26,

Sir Percy Bates, chairman of the Cunard Company, has issued a statement about the two giant liners which are to be built for it.

He describes the possible capture of the so-called blue riband of the Atlantic as merely incidental to the far bigger fact that for the first time in the history of naval architecture it is a practical proposition to run a weekly service from Southampton, via Cherbourg, to New York with two steamers which can pay.

Hitherto such a service has required three steamers.. The conditions which govern the construction of the two new steamers are speed and size. The speed is dictated by the time necessary to perform . the journey in all seasons of the year and in both directions, plus considerations of the number of hours required in port on each side of the

Sir Percy Bates. Atlantic. The size is dictated by the necessity to make money by providing sufficient saleable passenger accommodation to pay for speed. Sir .Percy expresses thanks the Government for its help over the insurance of the vessels and recalls that even before the war the problem existed with regard to insurance of the largest class of steamer. He says lie hopes, however, that when the question arises tlie expansion of the ordinary marine in lirance market may render the Government's agreement redundant. The President of the Board of Trade, Mr. William Graham, has appointed a committee to consider the economic features involved, in the disposal of old ships and their replacement by new ones, and to report whether in the national interest that process should be encouraged. _____